TRANSPORT

A19

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will put the (a) four major interchange improvements along the A19 from Hebburn to Seaton Burn and (b) major realignment of the A19/A1058 Coast Road interchange into the trunk road programme; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government announced in December 2004 that they would seek the regions' advice on their priorities for schemes for housing, regeneration and transport expenditure. Indicative allocations for the next 10 years were given to each region. The North East Interim Regional Transport Board has been established to determine each region's priorities. The four junction upgrade schemes on the A19 around Tyneside at Testos, Coast Road, Moor Farm and Seaton Burn junctions, are part of that process.
	We are expecting to receive each region's advice and priorities at the end of January. Once these have been assessed there will a further announcement of the Department's initial response to the proposals.

East West Rail (Western Section)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the proposed East West Rail (western section); and what estimate he has made of its cost.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport continues to work with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and local stakeholders to investigate the transport needs of the Milton Keynes to Oxford corridor as part of the Sustainable Communities agenda. East West Rail (western section) scheme is one potential component and we continue to investigate it.
	The last cost estimate for the scheme is £55 million capital costs (based on basic scheme—Oxford to Bedford, December 2003). These costs require further development and should be seen as indicative.

Humber Bridge

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the debt on the Humber Bridge has been written off; when it was written off; for what reasons; and what mechanism was used.

Stephen Ladyman: Under a loan agreement signed between the Humber Bridge Board (the Bridge Board) and the Secretary of State on 1 July 1998 and subject to an order under the Humber Bridge (Debts) Act 1996—The Humber Bridge (Debts) Order 1998 which came into force on 19 August 1998, it was agreed that the Bridge Board would not have to repay a £62 million debt owed to the Public Works Loan Board. This was part of a package of measures designed to help ensure the long-term financial future of the bridge.

Light Rail Schemes

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new light rail schemes in large cities are planned; how many light rail schemes have been delivered in the last five years; and how many he expects will be delivered by July 2010.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 18 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1385–6W and 24 January 2006 [UIN40581] to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling).

Railways

Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the consultants' report on the review of the Northern Rail franchise; and whether he expects the results of that review to be incorporated into the 2006 timetable.

Derek Twigg: The review of the Northern rail franchise is continuing, and an announcement will be made in due course. It has yet to be decided whether any train service changes recommended by the review would be incorporated in the December 2006 timetable, or at a later date.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1150W, on train operating companies, what mechanisms exist to ensure that the interests of (a) passengers and (b) the public purse are protected through the franchise specification and tendering process for train operating companies.

Derek Twigg: Passenger interests are protected by ensuring that franchises specify an appropriate level of service, backed by punctuality and reliability targets and penalties for non-compliance. The public purse is protected by developing a financial model of the franchise against which bids are assessed to ensure value for money and by the competitive tendering process itself.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of domestic freight traffic is transported by rail.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1384W to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling).

Railways

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that railway ticket prices represent value for money for passengers.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1383W to the hon. Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie).

Railways

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Strategic Rail Authority expects to report the findings of its consultation on the future of the Watford junction to Brighton service.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has reviewed the work carried out by the Strategic Rail Authority on the Brighton main line route utilisation strategy (RUS), which included recommendations on the future of the Watford junction to Brighton service. The finalised RUS will be published shortly.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what percentage of the rail network has the train protection and warning system; and if he will list those lines which do not;
	(2)  on which lines train safety systems have been installed since 2000.

Derek Twigg: Operation of the rail network in Great Britain is the responsibility of Network Rail (NR). I have asked NR to write direct to the hon. Member.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make an announcement on the future of the direct train link between Hastings and London Victoria.

Derek Twigg: The direct Hastings to Victoria service is being considered as part of the Brighton main line route utilisation strategy (RUS). An announcement about the publication of the RUS will be made shortly.

Road Accidents

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether an individual who is subject to medical treatment in a hospital over a period including midnight following a road accident is automatically classified in official statistics as having been seriously injured.

Stephen Ladyman: Personal injury road accident data in Great Britain are collected by the police and reported to the Department using the STATS19 accident report format. Any casualty who is admitted to hospital as an in-patient should be coded as a serious casualty in this system. Furthermore, casualties with certain types of injury such as fractures, should be coded as a serious casualty regardless of whether they were detained as an in-patient or not. However, not all personal injury road accidents are reported to the police.

Road Accidents

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal and (b) serious road traffic accidents occurred in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of (a) fatal and (b) serious personal injury road accidents in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham between 1997 and 2004 (the latest year which figures are available), is given in table.
	
		
			 Year of accident (a) Fatal accident (b) Serious accident 
		
		
			 1997 6 136 
			 1998 6 147 
			 1999 6 148 
			 2000 4 127 
			 2001 6 135 
			 2002 4 113 
			 2003 6 94 
			 2004 6 102 
		
	
	Source:
	Transport for London (TfL)

Stage Cottage (East Sussex)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for Stage Cottage, Hurst Green, East Sussex, following the Highways Agency's purchase of the cottage under a compulsory purchase order.

Stephen Ladyman: A compulsory purchase order has not yet been published for this scheme. Stage Cottage was a discretionary purchase in view of the preferred route announcement for this scheme. The A21 scheme was given regional status following the Highways Agency's announcement in December 2004 as part of the Spending Review round. It is too premature to declare this property surplus. The Highways Agency is making arrangements through its managing agent to rent out this property until the outcome of the Regional Transport Board's recommendations are known and agreed by Ministers.

Rolling Stock

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail vehicles (a) were delivered in each year since 1996 and (b) are due to be delivered in each year to 2012, broken down by manufacturer; and what the total value of rolling stock orders (i) delivered in each year since 1996 and (ii) due to be delivered in each year to 2012 is, broken down by manufacturer.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the number of new vehicles introduced into revenue earning service each year, broken down by manufacturer. The most recent new order is for vehicles which are due to be introduced into service in 2009. Not included are the orders anticipated but not yet in place for the replacement fleet for the existing HST—high speed trains—currently planned to enter service from 2012.
	
		New vehicles introduced into revenue earning service
		
			 Number 
			  Bombardier Alstom Siemens CAF/Siemens Hitachi Total 
		
		
			 1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 20 0 0 0 0 20 
			 1999 145 8 0 0 0 153 
			 2000 160 60 0 0 0 220 
			 2001 332 222 0 48 0 602 
			 2002 444 166 0 8 0 618 
			 2003 228 259 172 8 0 667 
			 2004 773 178 409 0 0 1,360 
			 2005 427 12 284 0 0 723 
			 2006 6 0 157 0 0 163 
			 2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2009 0 0 0 0 168 168 
			 Total 2,535 905 1,022 64 168 4,694 
		
	
	The following table shows the estimated value of the orders placed for the aforementioned vehicles, broken down by manufacturer. The values are listed by year in which the order was placed.
	
		Estimated value of new vehicle orders placed
		
			 £ million 
			  Bombardier Alstom Siemens CAF/Siemens Hitachi Total 
		
		
			 1996 11 0 0 0 0 11 
			 1997 257 92 0 0 0 349 
			 1998 624 265 0 55 0 944 
			 1999 47 663 0 0 0 710 
			 2000 125 0 0 9 0 134 
			 2001 19 0 679 9 0 707 
			 2002 1,122 0 0 0 0 1,122 
			 2003 163 0 200 0 0 363 
			 2004 0 0 125 0 0 125 
			 2005 7 0 0 0 235 242 
			 Total 2,375 1,020 1,004 73 235 4,707

Town and Parish Councils

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department is considering proposals to award town and parish councils statutory rights to object to all vehicle operators licence applications and renewals;
	(2)  whether his Department is considering proposals to make town and parish councils statutory consultees for all vehicle operators licence applications and renewals.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no plans to review the categories of persons who may object to, or make representations against, the issue of a goods vehicle operator's licence by a traffic commissioner. These persons include county, district and unitary authorities and individuals who own or occupy land in the vicinity of a proposed operating centre for goods vehicles. The existing arrangements provide adequate opportunity for persons who may be affected by the issuing of a licence to have their views considered. The most effective way for parish councils and similar bodies to comment on licence applications is to work with the local authorities who do have a right to object.

Transport Infrastructure Projects

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport infrastructure projects with a potential cost of more than £5 million on which the Highways Agency has carried out feasibility studies since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: All schemes with an estimated cost of more than £5 million are subject to an appraisal of economic and environmental benefits and costs before they enter the Highways Agency's investment programme, known as the 'Targeted Programme of Improvements'. Since 1997, 112 schemes have entered this programme and 32 have been completed as listed as follows:
	Completed TPI Schemes
	A1 Willowburn—Denwick Improvement
	A1(M) Wetherby—Walshford
	A2 Bean—Cobham Phase 1 Bean—Tollgate
	A5 Nesscliffe Bypass
	A5 Weeford—Fazeley Improvement
	A6 Great Glen Bypass
	A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass
	A6 Rothwell—Desborough Bypass
	A6 Clapham Bypass
	A6 Alvaston
	A10 Wadesmill Colliers End
	A11 Roudham Heath—Attleborough Improvement
	A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction
	A27 Polegate Bypass
	A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement
	A41 Aston Clinton Bypass
	A43 Silverstone Bypass
	A43 Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement
	A43 M40—B4031 Dualling
	A46 Newark—Lincoln Improvement
	A63 Selby Bypass
	A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass
	A120 Stansted—Braintree Improvement
	A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass
	A650 Bingley Relief Road
	A1033 Hedon Road Improvement
	M25 J12–15 Widening
	A47 Thorney Bypass
	A1 Stannington Junction
	M4 Junction 18 Eastbound Diverge
	M5 Junctions 17–18a Northbound Climbing Lane (Hallen Hill)
	A64 Colton Lane GSJ
	Total—32 Schemes
	TPI Schemes not yet completed
	A1(M) Ferrybridge—Hook Moor
	A2 Bean—Cobham Phase 2 Tollgate—Cobham
	A2/A282 Dartford Improvement
	A21 Lamberhurst Bypass
	A249 Iwade—Queenborough Improvement
	A303 Stonehenge
	A421 Great Barford Bypass
	A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement
	M60 J5–8 Widening
	A11 Attleborough Bypass
	A11 Fiveways—Thetford Improvement
	M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill extension
	A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction
	A14 Haughley New St.—Stowmarket Improvement
	A3 Hindhead Improvement
	A38 Dobwalls Bypass
	A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement
	A1 Peterborough—Blyth GSJ
	M62 Junction 6 Improvement
	A46 Newark—Widmerpool Improvement
	A30 Bodmin Indian Queens
	A483 Pant- Llanymynech Bypass
	A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement
	A419 Blunsdon
	A66 Temple Sowerby and Improvement at Winderwath
	A1 Dishforth to Leeming
	A1 Bramham—Wetherby (Including Wetherby Bypass)
	A1 Leeming to Barton
	A64 Rillington Bypass
	M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement
	A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling
	A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement
	A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement
	A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement
	A30/A382 Merrymeet Junction
	A66 Long Newton Junction
	A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass
	A419 Commonhead Junction
	M5 Junctions 19–20 Southbound Climbing Lane (Naish Hill)
	M5 Junctions 19–20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill)
	M1 J19
	A14 Ellington—Fen Ditton Improvement
	A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass
	A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement
	M1 Junction 6a to 10 Widening
	M1 Junction 10 to 13 Widening
	A1 Morpeth to Felton Dualling
	A1 Adderstone to Belford Dualling
	A1/A19/A1068 Seaton Burn Junction Improvement
	A19/A184 Testos Grade Separated Junction
	A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass)
	A421 Bedford to M1 Junction 13
	A21 Tonbridge to Pembury
	M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge)
	A590 High and Low Newton Bypass
	M20 Junction 10A
	A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross
	A3Q Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement
	A27 Southerham to Beddingham Improvement
	M1 J21–30
	M25 J1b-3 Widening
	M25 J5–7 Widening
	M25 J16–23 Widening
	M25 J23–27 Widening
	M25 J27–30 Widening
	A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Bypass
	A23 Handcross to Warninglid Widening
	A453 Widening (M1 J24 to A52 Nottingham)
	M25 Junction 28/A12 Brook Street Interchange
	M27 J11 to J12 Climbing Lanes
	M27 J3 to J4 Widening
	M1 J30 to J31 Widening
	M1 J31 to J32 Widening
	M1 J32 to J34S Widening
	M1 J34N to J37 Widening
	M1 J37 to J39 Widening
	M1 J39 to J42 Widening
	M1 J31 to J32 Northbound Collector/Distributor
	M62 J25 to J27 Widening
	M62 J27 to J28 Widening
	Total—80 Schemes

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality Management Zones

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many air quality management zones have been created in England and Wales in each year since they were established.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of local authorities in England and Wales who have passed orders declaring Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in each year since the first declaration in 1999 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of authorities passing orders declaring AQMAs 
		
		
			 1999 1 
			 2000 10 
			 2001 58 
			 2002 29 
			 2003 27 
			 2004 31 
			 2005 71 
			 2006 1 
		
	
	Some local authorities have declared AQMAs in more than one year. Other local authorities have revoked or amended AQMAs in subsequent years. The total number of local authorities in England and Wales which currently have AQMAs declared is 170.

Animal Welfare Charities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British animal welfare charities have been awarded Government funds in each of the last two years; and how much was awarded to each charity.

Ben Bradshaw: No British animal welfare charity was awarded Government funds in financial year 2004–05. One British animal welfare charity, the Welfare Fund for Companion Animals, has been awarded Government funds totalling £25,000 in financial year 2005–06.

Avian Influenza

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of 26 October 2005, Official Report, columns 307–09, what further work her Department has undertaken on the possibility of an avian influenza outbreak in the United Kingdom; what the results of that work have been; what (a) further work and (b) further work in conjunction with the Department of Health is planned; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: An updated Qualitative Risk Assessment covering outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in the period since the end of October 2005 was published on 17 January 2006. It takes account of outbreaks in village poultry in Turkey, Romania, Ukraine and South Federal district of Russia (European Russia), and also in the south west of China.
	This update and commentary does not alter our previous overall conclusion regarding the increased but still low likelihood of the introduction of the virus to the UK from the affected regions. Nevertheless, the increasing number of outbreaks in Eastern Europe raises concerns that the virus may be more widespread than previously anticipated in the affected region. Should the number of virus detections continue to increase in Eastern European countries, this may change the likelihood of introduction of the virus to the UK. Defra continues to monitor developments and assess the situation.
	Defra is working closely with the Department of Health on all issues related to the protection of human health during an outbreak of avian influenza, both to ensure the protection of individuals who would be involved in the control of disease and possibly exposed to diseased birds, and to prevent the resortment of the virus and the development of human influenza.

Badgers

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the culling of badgers; and whether the option of vaccines for badgers is being considered as an alternative.

Ben Bradshaw: Responsibility for tackling bovine tuberculosis is a devolved matter and what happens in Wales is, of course, a matter for the Welsh Assembly. However, in England, we are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy. Developing a TB vaccine for badgers and cattle is one of our key longer-term goals, and significant research is focused on this.

OTMS

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the over-30-month-scheme will come to an end.

Ben Bradshaw: The over-30-month-scheme (OTMS) came to an end at midnight on 22 January 2006. The Older Cattle Disposal Scheme replaced the OTMS on 23 January 2006.

OTMS

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the number of abattoirs allowed to process over thirty months cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: The decision to seek an approval to slaughter over-30-month (OTM) cattle for the food chain, is a commercial one.
	There is no ceiling on the number of abattoirs allowed to process these cattle, although to be approved an abattoir must be able to demonstrate that it has the facilities and procedures in place to effectively test cattle for BSE. As at 18 January, 33 abattoirs had been approved in the UK. We expect more to seek approval as the market for OTM beef expands.

Birds' Eggs (Thefts)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted for the theft of rare birds' eggs in each of the last seven years; and what steps she is taking to tackle such thefts.

Jim Knight: The information we hold on offences under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does not distinguish between egg theft offences and other offences under that section.
	However, information on the total number of defendants subject to proceedings at magistrates courts for offences relating to stealing of birds eggs in England and Wales, 1998–2004 1 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Act Offence description 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Game Act 1831 sec. 12, 23, 3, 24 Killing game illegally. Killing or taking without certificate. Laying poison to destroy or injure game. Taking or destroying the eggs of game, wild fowl etc., or having eggs so taken in possession 20 25 9 7 7 16 10 
			  
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sec. 1 Protection of nests and eggs of wild birds 19 14 10 31 10 17 18 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sec. 3 Protection of the nests and eggs of wild birds in sanctuaries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sec. 6 Sale etc. of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc. 3 2 4 1 0 1 1 
		
	
	(1) These data are on the principal offence basis
	Source:
	RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform
	Ref: IOS 020–06
	The Government are committed to combating wildlife crime, and, through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, supports the network of Police Wildlife Crime Officers who enforce these controls. In particular, the police response to egg thefts—'Operation Easter'—has made an important impact on this type of crime, and the criminals involved.

Cattle Movement Regulations

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 311W, on farming, in what circumstances an error regarding cattle movement regulations which occurred before 2003, where the animal is now dead, would be considered an infringement of loss compliance rules.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 20 January 2006
	To reiterate the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 311W, a breach of the relevant requirements on or after 1 January 2005 will be regarded as a non-compliance and will be assessed for a penalty as required by the EC regulations. Breaches which commenced prior to the introduction of cross compliance and are continuing, through an act or omission of the farmer, into 2005, will also be assessed for a penalty.
	The Cross Compliance Statutory Management Requirements covering cattle identification are the legal requirements set out in Council Regulation 911/2004, Commission Regulation 1760/2000 and the related domestic implementing legislation. Any act or omission that breaches this legislation, which took place before 1 January 2005, but which could have been rectified prior to being discovered at any cross compliance on the spot check will be regarded as a non-compliance.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many litter enforcement notices were served on members of the public for dropping chewing gum in the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilot areas during the pilot period.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 January 2006
	There were two litter fixed penalty notices for dropping chewing gum issued during the pilot campaigns—one by Manchester city council and one by Preston city council.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what evidence there is from the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilot areas of reductions in the quantity of illegal littering of public areas by chewing gum;
	(2)  how much less gum there was on relevant streets at the end of the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilots compared with the beginning of the pilot period.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 January 2006
	Reliable figures on the reductions in gum deposition are only available from Preston city council, as both Maidstone borough council and Manchester city council experienced problems over the accurate measurement of gum deposits. In Preston there was a 76 percent. reduction in levels of gum deposition in the control areas at the end of the campaign, and subsequent assessments have found that significant reductions in those areas have been sustained.

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) fixed penalty notices have been issued and (b) successful prosecutions have been brought for each section of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 that has been introduced to date, grouped by each local authority area in England and Wales.

Ben Bradshaw: The fixed penalty provisions in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 will not be introduced until April 2006.
	Figures for prosecutions will not be available until after this fiscal year has ended.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister of State will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 3rd November 2005, reference: 29765.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 16 January 2006
	A reply was sent on 31 December 2005, I apologise for the delay.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will reply to the letter of 10 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Warley regarding climate change.

Elliot Morley: I apologise for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend's letter of 10 November 2005 regarding climate change. A reply will be sent shortly.

Executive Agencies

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) targets, (b) advice and (c) guidance her Department has given to executive agencies that fall under the remit of her Department on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: No formal targets, advice or guidance has been given to Defra executive agencies on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis.
	Eight of the nine Defra executive agencies already have headquarters outside the London region and/or a presence across the regions.

Farm Waste Directive

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government expects to introduce the Farm Waste Directive.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no Farm Waste Directive as such. Following a public consultation exercise and an adverse judgment by the European court of justice on infraction proceedings by the European Commission against the UK, we are now finalising the waste management (England and Wales) Regulations 2006. The main purpose of the Regulations is to repeal the exclusion in section 75(7)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and to apply to agricultural waste the national controls that are already in place to comply with the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. Our aim is to make and lay the Regulations before Parliament by 31 March 2006.

Glue Traps

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to make illegal the (a) sale and (b) use of glue traps; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The use of glue traps is currently a lawful method of pest control and there are no plans to make their sale or use illegal.
	However, when choosing to use glue traps instead of other methods such as spring and cage traps, or chemical control (warfarin for rats), the operator should consider their responsibilities in ensuring that the use of a glue trap does not cause any unnecessary suffering under Section 1, subsection (1) and Section 15 of the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Habitats Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many species the UK has requested to be added to the EU habitats directive 1992 in each year since 1992.

Jim Knight: The UK has not asked for any species to be added to the EU habitats directive.
	However, the European Commission has set up a Marine Expert Group, which includes the UK. This group is looking to make an initial assessment of the marine chapters in the annexes of the habitats directive with a view to possible adaptations.

Horse Exports

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that exported horses are categorised for export as for (a) breeding, (b) riding, (c) exhibition and (d) slaughter; and if she will take steps to ban the export of horses for slaughter.

Ben Bradshaw: European Union animal health rules, which set out the requirements for exporting horses to other member states, do not stipulate different rule for horses being exported for breeding, riding, exhibition or slaughter. A unilateral ban on the export of live horses for slaughter would be illegal under EU law.
	Under national animal welfare rules, we have a licensing system for the export of horses. Applicants wishing to export horses are asked the reason for export. However there is no evidence of a slaughter trade in this country or any demand for one. Information on reasons for export under the licensing arrangements can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/transport/horsestats.htm http://defraweb/animalh/wel fare/farmed/transport/horsestats.htm

House Building (Aylesbury)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the additional waste recycling capacity that will be required as a result of the planned expansion of housing in Aylesbury Vale;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of whether a new waste treatment facility will be required to take account of the Government's planned expansion of housing in Aylesbury Vale.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities and regional assembles are the responsible bodies to plan for the management of all waste types within their areas. Any growth in waste volumes needs to be seen in the context of wider trends in waste volumes linked to overall economic performance as well as any waste growth linked to planned expansion of housing. In defined growth areas, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have held regional seminars to discuss how waste arising from increasing population, particularly from construction, demolition and excavation can be properly planned for to ensure that the necessary infrastructure can be developed.
	The ODPM are also in discussions with the Environment Agency to carry out a study to predict quantities and types of waste that are likely to arise in the Thames Gateway region and the results from this study will be applicable to other designated growth areas. Additionally, the Environment and Quality of Life sub-group of the Milton Keynes South Midlands ((MKSM) Inter-Regional Board is conducting a desk study into waste strategies across the MKSM growth area, the results of which will be fed back through liaison with county and regional bodies.
	The Government continue to encourage all local authorities to move towards innovative methods of waste disposal which will reduce amounts of waste sent to landfill. In the 2004 Spending Review the Government announced an increase in the EPCS Formula Spending Share block of £888 million by 2007–08 over 2004–05. Over the three-year period to 2005–06, authorities are also benefiting from a total of £294 million invested through the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund and its successor the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant, will provide a further £260 million over the three years to 2007–08. Finally, through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), credits worth £355 million have been made available over the three years to 2005–06 as an extra source of funding, with a further £535 million available in 2006–07 and 2007–08.

Influenza Pandemic

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the security and sustainability of food supplies in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA is keeping the position under review with industry, in particular with help from our Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group which comprises representatives from all key food sectors, to ensure that the food supply chain can cope with the effects of an influenza pandemic. The main potential pinch point identified for the food industry is possible HGV driver shortages caused by drivers falling sick. We are exploring the option, for example, of increased sharing of driver resources.

Landfill Allowances

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the implementation of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme; and what the timescale is for the introduction of fines for local authorities exceeding their individual landfill allowances.

Ben Bradshaw: The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) was launched on 1 April 2005 with key target years 2010, 2013 and 2020. Section 9(1) of the Waste and Emissions Trading Act (WET Act) places each waste disposal authority (WDA) under a duty to secure that the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfills in that year does not exceed the amount authorised by the landfill allowances available to that authority for the year.
	At the end of the each scheme year (31 March annually), there will be a six month reconciliation period. Authorities will have three months to submit their end of year data. During the following two months, the monitoring authority will provide each authority with a draft reconciliation between the amount of BMW the authority landfilled and the number of allowances it holds. Should an authority have landfilled more waste than it holds allowances for, it can then use the sixth month to trade or borrow allowances to balance the figures. Any authority which has landfilled in excess of the allowances it holds at the end of the reconciliation period will be liable to a financial penalty of £150 per tonne (Section 9(2) of the WET ACT). In a target year: the Government will reserve the right to pass some or all of any fine imposed by the European Court of Justice. Guidance on the procedure for the application of penalties under section 9(2) of the WET Act and on the Secretary of State's powers to waive, and to extend the time for paying, penalties and interest with respect to landfilling of BMW in excess of allowances held has been published on the DEFRA website at
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/lats/guidance.htm.

Local Government Inspections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role her Department plays in local government inspection.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA does not carry out inspections of local authorities. The Audit Commission carries out inspections of local authorities within the Comprehensive Performance Assessment Framework. The Comprehensive Performance Framework includes a requirement to consider the performance of local authority environmental services.
	DEFRA has interests in a range of local authority inspection and other regulatory activity including in relation to animal health and welfare, and environmental protection.

Methane Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce methane emissions in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: UK methane emissions have fallen every year since 1990 and by 2004 had dropped to about half of 1990 levels. The main sources of methane emissions in the UK are landfill sites, agriculture, coal mining, gas distribution, and oil and gas production.
	Landfill site operators that continue to accept waste must fulfil the requirements of the Landfill Directive including taking appropriate measures to collect, treat and use landfill gas to produce useful energy or, where that is not possible, flare it. Other Government measures to reduce the levels of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill include the landfill tax escalator, the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (designed to meet the Landfill Directive targets), and public awareness campaigns. Together these measures have resulted in a decrease of about 63 per cent. in landfill methane emissions between 1990 and 2004.
	The nature of emissions from agriculture make them a more difficult target for reduction than in other sectors. Nonetheless, improvement in animal diet and productivity has produced an 11 per cent. decrease in methane emissions from animals since 1990, and further reductions are expected. Recent research from the Rowett Research Institute, based in Aberdeen into anti-methane feed ingredients has yielded promising results, and in initial trials a reduction of up to 70 per cent. in emitted methane has been achieved. The UK Government remain committed to research into reducing methane emissions from ruminants. We are also committed to exploring techniques for methane recovery from agricultural waste and its use as a clean energy source.
	With regard to methane from coal mining, UK Coal signed up to the UK Emissions Trading scheme in 2002, with the target of reducing methane emissions from their installations by 400,000 tonnes by 2006. Furthermore methane extracted from abandoned coal mines and used as fuel has been exempt from the climate change levy since 2003. This exemption encourages the owners of mining facilities and decommissioned mines to invest in systems that capture methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. In addition the Coal Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry are developing a scheme further to encourage the mitigation of methane from abandoned mines. Methane emissions from coal mining (including closed mines) fell by some 73 per cent. between 1990 and 2004.
	Fugitive emissions from natural gas dropped by about 39 per cent. between 1990 and 2004. National Grid Gas plc, which owns and maintains the UK gas distribution network, is continuing to make improvements to the UK gas network. The planned replacement of 91,000 km iron gas mains with polyethylene pipes will lead to a further reduction in methane emissions from gas transmission.
	Methane emissions from offshore production of oil and gas fell by 53 per cent. between 1990 and 2004 in line with trends in numbers of installations and production levels.

Operation of Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are satisfied with the operation of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Recycling

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage industry to create recyclable products.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government recognises the importance of encouraging industry to develop recyclable products. Since it began work in 2000 the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has had a positive impact in developing markets for recycled materials and removing barriers to recycling. WRAP is engaged with producers and purchasers and has developed guidance along with the provision of advisory services to increase the take up of recycled products throughout a range of industries.
	Producer responsibility legislation, such as the Packaging, End of Life Vehicle (ELV) and forthcoming Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations, places obligations on producers to recycle products when they come to their end of life, providing an incentive for them to ensure their products are more recyclable from the outset.
	Finally, as disposal costs continue to rise due to increased landfill tax, there should be an indirect pressure on manufacturers to make products more recyclable.

Recycling

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling points there are per 1,000 population in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: Requested figures, based on the 2003–04 DEFRA municipal waste management survey and 2003 mid-year population estimates are shown in the following table. Recycling points are considered as both civic amenity and recycling sites within the area.
	
		
			  Recycling points per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 England 0.41 
			 Tees Valley 0.18 
			 Middlesbrough unitary authority 0.09 
			 Redcar and Cleveland unitary authority 0.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Tees Valley includes the unitary authorities of: Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Darlington.
	2. Results for the unitary authorities of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland have been provided as data at constituency level are not available.

Recycling

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken to ensure that the recycling rate of (a) household and (b) business refuse in the Tees Valley region is brought up to the national average.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) Waste strategy 2000 set out national recycling and composting targets for household waste, of 17 percent. in 2003–04, rising to 25 percent. in 2005–06, then 30 percent. in 2010 and 33 percent. in 2015. Each local authority was also set a statutory target for 2003–04 and 2005–06 and to assure that further progress is made, I recently launched for consultation options for further recycling/composting targets in 2007–08. All of the Tees Valley authorities met their 2003–04 targets and most are making good progress towards their 2005–06 targets.
	In addition to the recycling targets, the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 requires waste collection authorities—subject to certain exemptions—to provide a kerbside collection service of at least two recyclable materials by 2010. Furthermore, waste disposal authorities have been set challenging landfill diversion targets for biodegradable municipal waste which will drive authorities to ensure that the recycling of this waste is maximised.
	The Government recognise the challenge local authorities in England face meeting their statutory performance standards in recycling and composting. Accordingly, the 2004 Spending Review announced an increase in the environmental, protective, and cultural services block of £888 million by 2007–08 over 2004–05.
	Funding is also being provided from a variety of other sources to help authorities meet and exceed their targets. DEFRA's waste minimisation and recycling fund and its successor, DEFRA's waste performance and efficiency grant, are providing funding totalling £294 million over the three years to 2005–06 for specific projects to expand recycling operations of which the Tees Valley authorities have in total received around £5.5 million.
	The Tees Valley authorities have also benefited from consultancy support for the development of a joint waste management strategy through DEFRA's waste implementation programme which has devoted over £150 million over the three years to 2005–06 to strategic measures helping authorities to divert waste from landfill.
	The waste resources and action programme—a not-for-profit company supported by funding from the Government—has provided support to the Tees Valley authorities on home composting and over £270 000 for funding local communications in four of the five authorities. Each of the Tees Valley authorities is also participating in a £66,000 household incentive pilot scheme funded by DEFRA. The scheme will provide valuable information to all authorities on what household incentives provide the best increases in recycling rates in different types of community in the region.
	Within the context of the regional spatial strategy,which will provide the overarching framework for growth in the North East over the next 15 to 20 years, a regional waste strategy is being developed to encourage greater re-use and recycling of waste resources, moving them higher up the 'waste hierarchy'. The Government have also set up the North East regional support fund which has provided over £100,000 over the last two years for waste research chosen by the North East authorities—including strong Tees Valley representation.
	(b) There are different mechanisms in place to encourage businesses to recycle more and divert more waste from landfill sites. These include:
	The landfill tax escalator:
	The standard rate of landfill tax, which applies to active wastes, has been increased by £3 per tonne in 2005–06, and will be further increased by at least £3 per tonne in the following years to reach a medium—to long-term rate of £35 per tonne. The rate is currently £18 per tonne. The landfill tax was introduced to stimulate reductions in the levels of waste going to landfill and encourage the development of more sustainable waste management practices.
	The BREW programme:
	The business resource efficiency and waste (BREW) programme, which recycles revenue generated through the landfill tax, provides new support to business that specifically targets waste minimisation and the diversion of waste away from landfill.
	The landfill diversion targets:
	These will apply to biodegradable commercial waste that is collected by a local authority. As the cost of disposing of this waste will increase, authorities that collect commercial waste will have an incentive to ensure that as much of the waste is recycled as possible.
	Economics:
	The economic incentive for businesses to recycle is often much more clear-cut than it is for households as businesses generally pay for the volume of waste they create whereas householders pay a flat fee as part of council tax.
	Packaging waste regulations:
	These regulations set annual business targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste designed to meet the national targets. Any business handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging and with a turnover of more than £2 million is obligated. To date, businesses have recovered 53 percent in 2003 of packaging waste, compared with 33 percent in 1998; and recycled 47 percent. compared with 29 percent. in 1998.

Recycling

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines the Department provides to councils regarding reprimanding businesses and households who refuse to comply with recycling requirements.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities can require householders to recycle their recyclables using their powers under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 contains provisions which, when commenced in April 2006, will enable local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices to those breaching notices issued under sections 46 or 47 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	However, Government strongly believe that the right approach to changing behaviour is to continue to work with householders to ensure that they are given every opportunity to take part in recycling through the provision of a high quality recycling service, before enforcement is considered as an option.
	Local authorities are not required to collect waste from businesses unless requested by the business and a charge can be levied for the service. The local authority would be at liberty to negotiate a requirement to separate recyclables as part of the contract.

Recycling

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Government funding (a) the Ruislip-Northwood constituency and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon received to support recycling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA does not hold information on funding allocated to individual constituencies.
	The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services, including recycling.
	Funding is also being provided from a variety of other sources to support recycling, the amounts received by the London borough of Hillingdon are shown in the following table:
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 202,500 200,000 — — 
			 Direct Consultancy Support — — 18,018 16,481 
			 Grant to relieve spending pressures in the waste area — — 117,565 — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 225,905

Roman Snail

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the roman snail (helix pomatia) was not added to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act Review in 2002.

Jim Knight: Every five years the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) advises Government about the animals and plants that need legally protected through inclusion on schedule 5 (animals) or schedule 8 (plants) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Committee's current review is considering the inclusion of the roman snail (helix pomatia) on schedule 5. No decision has been made to date as the review is still ongoing.

School Milk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that local authorities who discharge their responsibilities under the School Milk Subsidy scheme via contractors meet their legal obligation to ensure that free school milk is available to those children who qualify.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no statutory requirement for milk to be provided in local authority maintained schools. It is a matter for local authorities and schools to decide. However, where a local authority provides milk, education legislation requires them to provide it free to pupils whose parents are in receipt of the following: income support; income based job seeker's allowance; support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; child tax credit, provided that they are not entitled to working tax credit, and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that from 6 April 2005 does not exceed £13,910; or the guarantee element of state pension credit. In addition, children who receive income support or income based jobseeker's allowance in their own right are entitled to free school milk where it is provided.
	It is this Department's view that where a local authority engages a contractor to supply milk to the schools in their area, the contractor is deemed to be acting on behalf of the local authority. In these cases the local authority would remain responsible for providing free milk to eligible pupils. The Department will investigate any complaints related to a failure to carry out duties imposed by education legislation. Ultimately, the Secretary of State may direct a local authority to carry out their duty in relation to free milk provision where they are failing to do so.

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to tackle the importation into the UK of illegal timber from (a) Indonesia, (b) China, (c) Brazil and (d) other timber exporting countries; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The most important recent development is the adoption, in December 2005 under the UK presidency of the EU, of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation. This will allow the EU to enter into Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. It will be reinforced by powers for HM Customs to take a range of actions relating to unlicensed products from partner countries; this will allow member states to prohibit the import of illegal timber from those countries into the EU for the first time.
	The first Partnership Agreements will be signed in 2006. The Department for International Development (DfID) has recently announced that it will be setting aside 24 million over the next five years for this FLEGT negotiation process and for tackling illegal logging more generally.
	The Government also have been giving specific help to producer countries to prevent trade in illegal timber. Examples from the countries mentioned are as follows:
	(a) Indonesia
	In Indonesia there is a programme of work under a Memorandum of Understanding (signed in 2002) that commits both governments to tackle illegal logging and associated trade.
	(b) China
	The Eighth EU-China summit, held in Beijing on 5 September 2005, agreed that the EU and China would work together to tackle the problem of illegal logging in the Asian region. The Government are working to take this forward.
	(c) Brazil
	The UK has contributed £14 million to the multi-donor pilot programme for the Preservation of Brazilian Rain Forests and is a major contributor to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which is creating and maintaining protected areas in the region through the Amazon Region Protected Areas Programme.

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of imported timber which comes from illegal sources; and what steps she is taking to prevent such imports.

Elliot Morley: The UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, we are unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at ports of entry.
	Once the recently adopted EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation comes into force it will enable member states to enter into partnership agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. It will be reinforced by powers for HM Customs to take a range of actions relating to unlicensed products from partner countries; this will allow member states to prohibit the import of illegal timber from those countries into the EU for the first time.

Waste Management

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much waste was collected by each London borough in the most recent period for which information is available; and how much was (a) recycled, (b) sent to UK landfill sites, (c) incinerated and (d) sent overseas for landfill by each borough in that period.

Ben Bradshaw: The latest available information is from the Defra and GLA joint Municipal Waste Management Survey 2003–04. Figures provided in table below show total municipal waste tonnages collected by all London boroughs and by disposal methods by all London authorities with disposal responsibilities. Amounts collected for recycling and composting by collection authorities have been included. The collection authority recycling and composting tonnages exclude waste collected centrally at civic amenity sites by the four London joint waste disposal authorities. The four London joint waste disposal authorities include both civic amenity recycling and composting as well as recycling and composting undertaken by their constituent collection authorities.
	Landfill refers to UK landfill sites. No waste should have been exported from any London borough for landfill overseas since this is illegal under UK legislation.
	
		2003–04 Total municipal waste collected with methods of disposal (tonnes)
		
			   (a) (b) (c) 
			 Unitary authorities Total waste collected Recycled and composted Landfill Incinerated 
		
		
			 Bexley 132,340 26,967 95,767 9,606 
			 Bromley 172,437 29,296 100,259 42,882 
			 Croydon 198,931 26,815 171,986 130 
			 Greenwich 124,021 12,966 32,441 78,614 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 76,847 14,342 62,505 0 
			 Lewisham 137,040 9,403 25,694 101,943 
			 London Corporation 54,259 481 53,771 7 
			 Merton 100,765 11,924 88,776 65 
			 Southwark 134,714 8,985 94,429 31,300 
			 Sutton 99,300 25,477 73,642 181 
			 Tower Hamlets 103,396 4,088 99,292 16 
			 Westminster 213,910 12,846 70,077 130,987 
		
	
	
		Waste disposal authorities with corresponding collection authorities
		
			  Total waste collected (a) Recycled and composed (b) Landfill (c) Incinerated 
		
		
			 East London Waste Authority (2)— 37,707 435,820 36,218 
			 Barking and Dagenham 81,381 3,553 (2)— (2)— 
			 Havering 100,350 7,349 (2)— (2)— 
			 Newham 129,446 2,938 (2)— (2)— 
			 Redbridge 100,851 8,509 (2)— (2)— 
			 North London Waste Authority (2)— 104,324 453,313 393,681 
			 Barnet 161,816 23,857 (2)— (2)— 
			 Camden 133,625 18,481 (2)— (2)— 
			 Enfield 127,538 20,294 (2)— (2)— 
			 Hackney 116,014 5,378 (2)— (2)— 
			 Haringey 121,497 8,715 (2)— (2)— 
			 Islington 110,005 5,624 (2)— (2)— 
			 Waltham Forest 114,929 13,139 (2)— (2)— 
			 West London Waste Authority (2)— 115,429 727,867 487 
			 Brent 119,023 9,919 (2)— (2)— 
			 Baling 129,807 16,129 (2)— (2)— 
			 Harrow 99,338 13,193 (2)— (2)— 
			 Hillingdon 115,817 32,440 (2)— (2)— 
			 Hounslow 113,805 15,952 (2)— (2)— 
			 Richmond upon Thames 107,295 21,204 (2)— (2)— 
			 Western Riverside Waste Authority (2)— 53,129 435,507 906 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 90,375 9,595 (2)— (2)— 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 90,820 10,958 (2)— (2)— 
			 Lambeth 141,884 10,285 (2)— (2)— 
			 Wandsworth 134,888 17,306 (2)— (2)— 
		
	
	(2) type of activity not undertaken by authority.

Waste Management

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sanctions will be applied to packaging producers and compliance schemes that did not discharge their recycling responsibilities appropriately in 2004.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a matter for the Environment Agency and potentially the Courts.

Waste Management

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of street litter, exclusive of that which is collected from public litter bins, was collected by each local authority in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Waste collection authorities under Schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 will include such services as street sweeping, bulky waste collection, hazardous household waste collection, litter collections, household clinical waste collection and separate garden waste collection (not for composting). These type of wastes have been annually recorded in the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey under the category Other collected household waste". Authorities are not required to record street litter separately. Therefore the information requested is not held by the Department.

Waste Management

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of Hammersmith and Fulham Council's response to her Department's consultation on new waste regulations which place a duty of care on householders for their household waste.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government consulted on household duty of care in their 'Living Places: Powers, Rights, Responsibilities' consultation in 2002. The Government considered responses to the consultation from the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as well as other stakeholders. It took on board comments that a full waste duty of care requirement would be too onerous on householders, and difficult for local authorities to enforce. Instead, a partial waste duty of care was brought in by the Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) (England & Wales) Regulations 2005.
	The household duty of care has been brought in to ensure that England is in full compliance with Article 8 of the Waste Framework Directive.

Wild Mammals

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are satisfied with the operation of The Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996.

DEFENCE

C-130 Hercules

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defensive aids fitted to each (a) C130K and (b) C130J.

John Reid: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The following defensive aids are currently employed on the Hercules C130K and C130J fleet:
	Directional Infra Red Counter Measures
	Missile Approach Warning Systems
	Radar Warning Receiver
	Countermeasures Dispensing System
	Lamp Infra Red Counter Measure
	Flight Deck Armour
	Only Hercules with appropriate defensive countermeasures are deployed to operational theatres.
	Information relating to the defensive aids employed on each C130K and C130J airframe is being withheld because it would be likely to prejudice the security of the UK's armed forces.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the south-east.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to relocating 3,900 posts out of the south-east under the Lyons review. All relocation proposals are judged on the basis of value for money as demonstrated in a business case. A proposed move into London or the south-east must therefore offer significant value for money, efficiency and business benefits.
	Currently the only confirmed move of posts into the south-east is a result of the collocation of the two existing RAF headquarters into a single integrated HQ at High Wycombe. This is an element of the Ministry of Defence's efficiency programme and will achieve significant manpower and financial savings, but will result in a net increase of 96 posts at High Wycombe.
	There are some other proposals which might entail a move of posts into the south-east, the business cases for which are at varied stages of consideration. As at 20 January, however, none have been approved.
	There are no confirmed or proposed relocations into London.

Documentary Guidance (Evidence/Documentary Access)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to the (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) National Assembly for Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) the Scottish Parliament, (2) National Assembly for Wales, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons select committees.

Don Touhig: Requests for the attendance of Ministers or officials to give evidence to the devolved legislatures, and for the provision of information to the Assemblies, will be considered on a case by case basis. This consideration will reflect: the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidance Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees" (July 2005); the policy outlined in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note #12 Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the Devolved Legislatures"; and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. The principles underlying the provision of information to House of Commons Select Committees are set out in Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees", particularly sections 4B and 4C.

External Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid since 2004 to external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department in any capacity within the previous five years.

Don Touhig: Specific data on external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, summaries of MOD expenditure on external assistance, of which consultancy is a part, are available in the Library of the House for the years 1995–96 to 2004–05.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships from the navies of other countries called at Gibraltar in the last 12 months, broken down by country.

Adam Ingram: During the last 12 months, the number of ships from the navies of other countries that have called at Gibraltar and used MOD facilities are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 USA 6 
			 The Netherlands 1 
			 Germany 1 
			 Australia 1

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft from other countries' air forces landed at RAF Gibraltar in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: During the last 12 months, the number of aircraft from other countries' air forces that have landed at RAF Gibraltar are as follows:
	
		
			 Countries Number of aircraft 
		
		
			 United States of America 5 
			 The Netherlands 3 
			 Germany 3 
			 Canada 1 
			 Switzerland 1

Glencorse Barracks

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many new homes he estimates will be required to house the families of soldiers stationed at Glencorse Barracks;
	(2)  how many civilian jobs he estimates will be created at Glencorse Barracks over the next three years;
	(3)  how many Army personnel will be stationed at Glencorse Barracks over the next three years.

Don Touhig: We estimate that in the region of 650 army personnel will be stationed at Glencorse Barracks over the next three years.
	151 new Service Family Accommodation house types are being built on the re-developed area of the old Milton Bridge Camp; this additional housing will ensure the requirements of the families of soldiers stationed at Glencorse Barracks are met.
	Under current plans it is estimated that in the region of 40 civilian jobs will be created at Glencorse Barracks over the next three years.

Gurkhas

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the findings of his review of Gurkhas' terms and conditions of service.

Don Touhig: Because of the complexity of some of the issues involved, the review of Gurkha Terms and Conditions of Service is taking longer than originally planned. We hope that an announcement can be made before the Whitsun recess.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterpart about the comparative incidences of Gulf War illnesses in US and UK forces involved in the invasion of Iraq in 2003; and what the results of those discussions were.

Don Touhig: Defence Ministers have not held any formal discussions with the United States counterparts about the comparative incidence of Gulf War illness" following the start of the current Iraq deployment (Operation Telic). A British Liaison Officer is based permanently in Washington DC and is tasked with ensuring that the United Kingdom has full visibility of US research into Gulf health issues and with providing a channel for communicating our own work to interested US parties. There has also been other discussions on the subject at official level.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Operation Telic have since been diagnosed with recognised neurological illnesses.

Don Touhig: Information on illnesses reported by service personnel who have served on Operation Telic is not held centrally. Although the medical records of individuals who have left the services are held by each service at individual central locations, the records of personnel who are still serving are normally held at their unit medical centre.
	However, data has been collated since September 2004 on how many service personnel, deployed on Operation Telic, reported to UK medical facilities in theatre with neurological disorders (including paralysis and altered consciousness). Between September 2004 and November 2005 inclusive, there were:
	562 instances of personnel reporting to first line medical facilities with a neurological complaint; 54 were admitted/bedded down; 18 were referred for specialist consultation.
	The assessment of such disorders is made at the point of access to primary health care and is not a formal medical diagnosis. Additionally, it does not take into account any subsequent change in diagnosis.

Iraq

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place regarding the air transportation of British troops from Germany to Iraq.

Adam Ingram: A scheduled air service, comprising a mix of Royal Air Force and commercial aircraft, operates between the United Kingdom and Iraq five days a week, also calling in Germany on two of those days. Additionally, when the main body of troops in Iraq changes, dedicated aircraft move those troops to and from the country in which they are normally stationed, which may include Germany.

Joint Casualty Treatment Ship

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Joint Casualty Treatment Ship programme.

Adam Ingram: The Joint Casualty Treatment Ship programme aims to deliver a ship-borne medical facility broadly similar in scope to a field hospital, capable of treating a full range of casualties, whether from sea, land or air environments. It is intended to replace the capability currently provided by RFA Argus. A review of the programme is currently taking place which will inform the requirement further.

Merchant Fleet

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on measures to protect the British merchant fleet of the planned reduction in the fleet of commissioned frigates and destroyers; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The global threat to merchant shipping is kept under constant review, and the Royal Navy, in conjunction with other Government Departments and international partners, remains fully capable of providing support and assistance to British merchant shipping via its Maritime Trade Operations policy.

Nursing Services

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel at 1 April 2006 will comprise the (a) Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and (b) Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

Don Touhig: The latest available information on the strength of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) and the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) is given in the following table.
	
		Number
		
			  Strength 1 December 2005 
		
		
			 QARANC 830 
			 Officers(3) 260 
			 Other Ranks 570 
			   
			 PMRAFNS 420 
			 Officers 120 
			 Other Ranks 300 
		
	
	(3) Excludes the ranks colonel and above.
	Source:
	DASA (Tri-Service).

QinetiQ

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work (a) the Department and (b) QinetiQ is undertaking to support the European Defence Agency's review of training and evaluation.

Adam Ingram: Representatives from the Ministry of Defence participate, alongside their colleagues from other European nations, in a European Defence Agency (EDA) working group examining possible measures to rationalise the Defence Test and Evaluation base in Europe. QinetiQ is not directly involved in these discussions, but is consulted by the Ministry of Defence on matters of mutual interest. The EDA discussions are at an early stage, and no firm conclusions on the prospects for rationalisation have been reached.

RAF Bentley Priory

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of RAF Bentley Priory; what assessment he has made of its historic significance; and what discussions he has had on the subject with the Battle of Britain Fighter Association.

Don Touhig: Studies within the Ministry of Defence have concluded that there is no current defence requirement for retaining Bentley Priory and therefore the Department is considering options for its disposal. This work is being taken forward through Project MoDEL, which aims to consolidate the defence estate in Greater London to ensure that it is the right size and quality to support our future operational outputs and to improve working and living conditions for current and future generations of service personnel in London. The MOD is in the process of selecting an industry partner to take the project forward.
	The MOD is well aware of the unique historical importance of RAF Bentley Priory. Defence Estates has completed a detailed Heritage Assessment, which was shared with English Heritage in July 2004. The Department has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the future of RAF Bentley Priory, including the Battle of Britain Fighter Association (BoBFA), and understands their aspirations. Meetings have also been facilitated between BoBFA and the two short-listed industry bidders for the Project MoDEL contract. Defence Estates' staff are also engaging with BoBFA over the development of a formal Conservation Statement, which will act as the definitive identification of the site's heritage importance.
	The MOD wishes to identify a long-term and sustainable solution that will ensure that the site is preserved in a way that is appropriate to its significant importance, whilst seeking to enhance public access. In doing so, it is important that we maintain the momentum of Project MoDEL, in order to realise the benefits it will deliver at the earliest opportunity.

Royal Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on ammunition supplied to his Department by Royal Ordnance from overseas; and how much of the ammunition supplied was rejected as being unsuitable for use in 2004–05.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence procures a range of defence general munitions from BAE Land Systems (Formerly Royal Ordnance) through a Framework Partnering Agreement. Sourcing is principally a matter for the company, which is free to make commercial decisions to source components or complete rounds of ammunition from overseas. MOD monitor the performance of all ammunition in service, whether sourced in the UK or overseas. Statistics on ammunition rejected and the original source country are not held centrally, and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Swimmer Delivery Vehicles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what representations he has received from the Royal Navy regarding the operational implications of the loss of underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles supplied by HMS Spartan;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) insertion teams and (b) transportation units of the loss of underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles;
	(3)  in what year he expects underwater launch facilities for swimmer delivery vehicles to be restored.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information on the grounds that disclosure would prejudice the defence of the UK and the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.

Swimmer Delivery Vehicles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors were taken into account when HMS Spartan was selected (a) as the sole submarine capable of the underwater launch of swimmer delivery vehicles and (b) for decommissioning prior to other fleet submarines.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The decision to reduce our attack submarines from 12 boats to 10 was taken as part of the Strategic Defence Review. HMS Spartan was selected as one of the submarines to be withdrawn from service taking into account such factors as her age, material state and capability. I am withholding the further information requested on the grounds that disclosure would prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom and the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) second lieutenants, (b) lieutenants, (c) captains, (d) majors, (e) lieutenant-colonels and (f) Territorial Army personnel with five-year service bars are serving in the Territorial Army;
	(2)  how many five-year service bars have been awarded to Territorial Army personnel in each of the last five years.

Don Touhig: The Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM) is awarded to members of the volunteer reserve forces subject to completion of 10 years continuous qualifying service. For the purposes of the reply, it is assumed that it is details of the number of clasps to the VRSM, awarded for subsequent continuous periods of five years' service, that are sought. This information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Rank Number currently serving with VRSM clasp(s) 
		
		
			 Second Lieutenant 1 
			 Lieutenant 9 
			 Captain 35 
			 Major 28 
			 Lieutenant Colonel 1 
			 All TA Personnel 1,063 
		
	
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of VRSM clasps issued 
		
		
			 2001 126 
			 2002 334 
			 2003 396 
			 2004 267 
			 2005 34

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average age is of Territorial Army (a) recruits, (b) privates, (c) non-commissioned officers, (d) officers and (e) personnel as a whole.

Don Touhig: Of the 37,430 personnel who were on the strength of the Territorial Army (including TA mobilised reservists) as at 1 December 2005, the average age was as follows:
	
		
			  Average age (years) 
		
		
			 Recruits 23 
			 Trained Privates 28 
			 Non-Commissioned Officers 38 
			 Officers 40 
			 TA as a whole 31 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude full-time reserve service (FTRS) and non-regular permanent staff (NRPS).
	2. Figures include officer training corps.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence upon which sections of the Territorial Army thecall-out notices for Operation Telic 8 are being served.

Don Touhig: Call-out notices for Operation Telic 8 are being served upon volunteers from across a variety of regiments and corps in the Territorial Army, including: the pool of Watch Keepers; the Royal Armoured Corps; the Royal Artillery; the Infantry; the Royal Logistics Corps; and the Army Medical Services.

Territorial Army

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the number of soldiers in the Territorial Army.

Don Touhig: holding answer 23 January 2006
	The number of new recruits into the Territorial Army (TA) remains relatively high. We continue to recruit through professional advertising campaigns and recent TV campaigns have generated a lot of interest in people joining the TA. A new and integrated recruiting process will be introduced under Project One Army Recruiting (OAR) which will provide greater integration and coherence between Regular Army and TA recruiting. In addition, a manning action plan has been introduced to improve recruitment and retention which includes: improved and more flexible Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS); better integration of training with the Regular Army including increased levels of training support and availability of equipment; and enhancements to support administration, welfare, recruiting and employer support activities.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) tax rates and (b) tax allowances are used when Territorial Army personnel are on deployment; and what advice is available after deployment about personal tax issues.

Don Touhig: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are notified of an individual's impending change in employment status prior to mobilisation, and a change of tax code is issued calculated under the normal pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) rules. Under these rules, the tax rates and allowances that apply vary according to an individual's income and personal circumstances.
	Until the change of tax code is received and applied, which is normally during the second month of deployment, an emergency tax code is used for all Territorial Army personnel. This assumes that they are only entitled to the basic personal tax allowance.
	Mobilised Territorial Army personnel on deployment are able to seek advice on tax issues in theatre from the regimental administration officer who, if necessary, can seek expert advice on more complex issues from armed forces pay officials within the United Kingdom.

Transport Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure on RAF (a) tanker and (b) transport aircraft was in each financial year since 1996–97.

Adam Ingram: A number of areas within the Department incur expenditure on the RAF's Air Refuelling (AR) and transport fleets. The financial information requested is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The figures provided in the table are the logistic support costs of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) that can be directly attributed to the fixed wing aircraft fleets in the financial years for which costs are readily available.
	The AR fleet is comprised of Tristar and the VC10aircraft. The transport aircraft are C-17, Hercules C-130J/K, Tristar, VC10, BAe 125 and BAe 146.
	The table does not include contract lease costs for three commercially owned military registered Twin Squirrel helicopters, which are used in the VIP transport role, as these costs are commercially sensitive.
	
		£ million
		
			 Financial year RAF's air refuelling (AR) Transport aircraft(4) 
		
		
			 1996–97 58 — 
			 1997–98 53 — 
			 1998–99 53 — 
			 1999–2000 45 — 
			 2000–01 44 — 
			 2001–02 41 — 
			 2002–03 50 218 
			 2003–04 47 229 
			 2004–05 45 207 
		
	
	(4) These figures include the lease cost of the C-17 fleet which is managed by the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA). The value of the lease is commercial-in-confidence and is not identified separately.
	Note:
	DLO and DPA staff costs are not included.

Troop Safety

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward legislation to make it a criminal offence for individuals (a) to place the safety of UK troops on active service in danger by their actions and (b) who question the reputation of British troops without basis.

Adam Ingram: There is always a distinction to be drawn between the freedoms appropriate to a democracy and the abuse of those freedoms by an individual seeking to cause harm.
	An individual who sought, deliberately and actively, to endanger the lives of UK troops may well be committing an offence under existing law, for example the Official Secrets Acts or the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
	The Government would not envisage bringing forward legislation to make it a criminal offence to question the reputation of British troops. However, the relevant laws in respect of defamation may apply.

Veteran's Badge

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Midlothian residents (a) are eligible for and (b) have received a veteran's badge.

Don Touhig: It is not possible to say how many residents of Midlothian are eligible for the Veterans' Badge, as we do not know how many would fulfil the criteria. The badge was introduced in May 2004 and we cannot readily identify by postal area the location of badges issued in the initial year. However, since April 2005, 78 residents from Midlothian have received Veterans' Badges.

Veteran's Badge

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to extend the Veterans' Badge to those who left the services recently.

Don Touhig: My predecessor announced on 20 January 2005, Official Report, columns 1039–1041, that from 1 February 2005, a Veteran's badge would be included as part of the Service leavers' packs, subject to certain conditions. One of these conditions was that this was to be a one-year trial. This trial will end shortly and work is under way to consider the way ahead.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Instant Justice Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps will be taken to protect (a) innocent people from conviction and (b) civil liberties under the proposed instant justice scheme; whether defendants will be able to seek independent legal advice before accepting a penalty; and whether they will have the option of going to court if they dispute the allegation made against them.

Mike O'Brien: The Government's aim is to deliver a speedier, more proportionate and cost effective response to low level offending that better meets the needs of victims and the wider community. The proposals at this stage relate to extending the conditional caution scheme and dealing with some minor documentary motoring offences and TV licence cases administratively. The Government are at an early stage in considering whether there might be a role for a prosecutorial fine, as is currently the case in Scotland.
	Under all our proposals the accused will still be able to consult a lawyer before deciding whether to accept the disposal proposed and go to court to dispute either the allegation or the suggested penalty.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Staff (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff employed by his Department live in Castle Point.

Jim Murphy: Cabinet Office figures are fewer than five and have been suppressed as disclosure could lead to identification of the people involved.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Correspondence

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the letter dated 23 August 2005 from the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon, with regard to Mr. J. Moody.

James Purnell: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The hon. Member's letter was sent to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions and it was received in DCMS on 8 December 2005. I wrote to the hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon on 17 January 2006.

Departmental Estate

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what she has identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of her Department's estate.

David Lammy: The Department has identified its most significant sustainable development issues in relation to the operation of its estate as the following:
	energy consumption
	water use
	Carbon levels
	hazardous substances used
	timber and timber products
	biodiversity (in relation to the Royal Parks)
	food procurement

Departmental Staff (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff employed by her Department live in Castle Point.

David Lammy: There are no staff employed by DCMS who live in Castle Point.

Historic Sites

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2005, Official Report, column 955W, on historic sites, what the name and address is of each historic site in Hammersmith and Fulham that has (a) featured on this list, (b) been added to the list and (c) been removed from the list in the last five years.

David Lammy: The following historic sites have featured every year on English Heritage's Building at Risk register for the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the last five years:
	St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, NW10
	Kent House including Front Boundary Railings and Gate, 10 Lower Mall, W6
	St. Paul's Churchyard, Queen Caroline Street, W6
	Dimco Machine Tools—former Central Railway generating station Wood Lane, W12
	and the Lodge on the north east side of entrance to Fulham Palace, Fulham Palace Road, SW6.
	Those historic sites that have been added to the Register in the last five years are:
	The Walls of the Old Garden, Fulham Palace, SW6—in 2002
	34 Black Lion Lane, St Peters Square, SW6—in 2003
	The Black Bull sculpture outside Ravenscroft Arms Public House, 257 King Street, Hammersmith, W6—in 2003
	The Black Bull sculpture was taken off the Register—in 2004
	Other historic sites that have been removed from the Register in the last five years are:
	11 Stamford Brook Road, W6—in 2002
	and 282 North End Road, SW6—in 2003

Library/Leisure Facilities

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport what the total library service book stock was in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The total bookstock held by Lancashire County Libraries for each year between 1997–98 and 2003–04 is shown in the table. These figures are drawn from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals). Copies are kept in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Total bookstock 
		
		
			 1997–98 3,113,918 
			 1998–99 2,486,056 
			 1999–2000 2,386,475 
			 2000–01 2,316,941 
			 2001–02 2,309,223 
			 2002–03 2,184,021 
			 2003–04 2,107,879

Library/Leisure Facilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the demand for (a) libraries and (b) leisure facilities arising from the planned housing expansion in Aylesbury Vale.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any discussions with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the demand for libraries and leisure facilities in Aylesbury Vale. The Department has, however, been taking steps to ensure that adequate cultural infrastructure forms part of new developments across all of the growth areas including that covering Milton Keynes South Midlands (MKSM) The Department and its non-departmental public bodies have, for instance, been contributing to the work of the MKSM inter-regional board to ensure that the requirements of the cultural sector are reflected in proposals for development in the sub region and this led to the publication of the Living Spaces Culture and Sustainable Communities in the MKSM, guide for Local Delivery Vehicles" consultation document, launched in March 2005.

Pornography

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2536W, on pornography, what measures are in place to ensure that vulnerable groups, with particular reference to children, are not harmed by this material.

David Lammy: There are a number of relevant pieces of legislation which have an impact on the dissemination of pornographic material, including the Obscene Publications Act, the Indecent Displays Act, the Communications Act, the Video Recordings Act, and the Protection of Children Act.

Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what parts of her Department's estatewill not be covered by the commitments set out in the framework for sustainable development on the Government estate.

David Lammy: All parts of the Department's estate are covered by the framework for sustainable development on the Government estate.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made to the budget of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) for 2005–06; and what proportion of IAVI's total budget that represents.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development has committed £8 million to the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, for the financial year 2005–06. IAVI financial years coincide with calendar years.
	The £8 million committed for 2005–06 is accounted for in IAVI's 2005 accounts where it represents 31 per cent. of the total funds received.

World Trade Organisation (Hong Kong Talks)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the implications for developing countries of the outcome of the World Trade Organisation trade talks in Hong Kong.

Hilary Benn: We did not make substantial progress in negotiations in Hong Kong, although conditional agreements were reached on ending export subsidies by 2013; agreeing new controls on food aid; and providing duty and quota free access for the world's Least Developed Countries for most, though not all products. Increased Aid for Trade is now included, for the first time, in the Hong Kong Declaration.
	However in the key areas of agricultural market access and trade distorting domestic support the outcome was disappointing. There is now a great deal of work to be done to reach an outline agreement ("modalities") by the new deadline of 30 April, and schedules of commitments based on this outline by 31 July.

Disaster Relief

Celia Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget for 2005–06 is allocated to preparedness and risk reduction for natural disasters; what proportion is allocated to disaster relief; and if he will increase the funds available for disaster preparedness and risk reduction.

Gareth Thomas: Our spending on humanitarian assistance including response to disasters increased from £186 million in 1997–98 to £370 million in 2004–05. We are committed to give a higher priority to disaster risk reduction.

Disaster Relief

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he proposes to improve the humanitarian response to natural disasters and long-term reconstruction thereafter.

Hilary Benn: I made proposals in a speech in New York on 23 January. We have worked with the UN to establish a new Fund which will channel money to disasters quickly. We are calling for a strengthened role for UN humanitarian co-ordinators; improvements to the UN Flash Appeals system; and for the UN to develop proposals to increase staffing capacity.
	The UK supports a clear role for the World Bank to support and co-ordinate longer-term recovery and reconstruction following natural disasters, properly co-ordinated with the UN. The Bank should ensure it has mechanisms in place for prompt and sustainable response to changed country needs.

East Africa

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on good governance in East Africa.

Hilary Benn: The picture is mixed. I am encouraged by the recent constitutional referendum in Kenya, and the recent presidential and the parliamentary elections in Tanzania. The first multi-party elections for more than 20 years in Uganda next month will also be an important test of democracy but I am concerned about what has been happening there recently. I am also worried about corruption in Kenya, which I raised with President Kibaki last week, including the latest allegations in the Kenyan and UK press. It is essential that these are fully and swiftly investigated.

Developing World (Conflict)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to address the humanitarian consequences of conflict in the developing world; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Conflict is one of the biggest obstacles to poverty reduction. DFID has taken a number of steps to address the humanitarian consequences of conflict. In 2005 DFID provided more than £29 million to support the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and in 2004 £36.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross. We expect to spend £175 million in Africa this year on humanitarian relief, including in conflict affected countries. A draft humanitarian policy will be available for consultation this week. DFID also works on preventing conflict, so as to reduce the humanitarian consequences, including through the Africa and Global Conflict Prevent Pools and the Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit.

Trade Barriers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to encourage the reduction of barriers to trade between the EU and developing countries.

Hilary Benn: Increased trade has the potential to help developing countries grow economically and therefore help them tackle the problems of poverty. We will continue to make the case in Europe that a more open import regime can be good for developing countries as well as helping the EU itself become more competitive and prosperous. We will continue to assist developing countries in formulating their own trade policies and priorities, help them to negotiate these priorities, and help them to capture the potential benefits of increased trade.
	Since 1998 we have spent £181 million through our trade related capacity building programmes to help developing countries, and we have announced our intention to increase the amount we spend on so-called Aid for Trade to £100 million per year by 2010.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: Despite recent surveys showing mortality and malnutrition rates in Darfur below emergency thresholds, the situation remains critical. Around 1.8 million people are displaced, almost entirely reliant on humanitarian assistance.
	The recent upsurge in violence in West Darfur has caused the UN and other agencies to reduce staffing levels, and limit access to some areas. Although the UN is implementing contingency plans, any prolonged period without access will inevitably have a harmful effect on the population.
	The UN launched its humanitarian workplan for 2006 last month. $650 million is being sought for Darfur. We have committed £40 million to the overall programme, and are encouraging other donors to respond generously.

Sudan

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that international donors fulfil their pledges for $4.5 billion for humanitarian aid in Southern Sudan.

Hilary Benn: Approximately $4.5 billion was pledged for Sudan at last April's Oslo Donors' Conference. These pledges related to the whole of Sudan, including Darfur, not just to the south, and were for both humanitarian and development needs over the three years 2005–07.
	It is important that these pledges are converted into cash. There will be an opportunity to formally review how well this is progressing at the donors' conference in Paris in early March, where there will undoubtedly be pressure on donors to fulfil their earlier pledges. We know that of the $194 million pledged for the first year of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for development assistance, some $150 million has already been paid in, over $100 million of this is for the south. Last year, donors also contributed or firmly committed over $1 billion in humanitarian assistance.
	Nevertheless, Sudan's needs remain acute, and we continue to take every suitable opportunity to encourage other donors to respond as generously as they can. We have particularly sought to persuade donors to contribute to the newly established Common Humanitarian Fund, administered by the UN. Sudan remains a priority country for DFID, and this year we will spend over £100 million there on aid.

Sudan

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan.

Hilary Benn: Despite recent surveys by the UN showing that average crude mortality and malnutrition rates in Darfur have fallen below emergency thresholds, the situation there remains critical. According to the UN, approximately 1.8 million people remain displaced in the region. They remain almost entirely reliant on humanitarian assistance.
	The recent upsurge in violence and tension in West Darfur has led to the UN raising its security level to phase 4 (the highest before evacuation), causing the UN and other agencies to reduce staffing levels, and severely limiting access to some areas of the state. Although the UN is working hard to implement contingency plans, any prolonged period without access will inevitably have a harmful affect on the population.
	The UN launched its Sudan-wide humanitarian work plan for 2006 last month. $650 million is being sought for the international response in Darfur. DFID has already committed 40 million to the overall programme, and are encouraging other donors to respond as generous as they can.

Sudan

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received of abuse of women and children in Darfur, Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UN Security Council report of 23 December 2005 stated that
	the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence in and around camps of internally displaced persons remained high throughout Darfur,
	and that the authorities were still failing to act
	with due diligence to prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of rape.
	Such attacks are abhorrent and unacceptable. We have made clear to the Government of Sudan that more must be done to provide security for the people of Darfur, and that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Last month, the UK with other representatives of the international community, participated in a joint mission to assess human rights in West Darfur. The mission paid specific attention to sexual violence, and produced a number of recommendations. We are pressing the Government of Sudan to implement these as a matter of urgency.
	With our partners, we are encouraging the Africa Union Mission in Darfur to scale up patrols and provide protection for women and girls when they leave their camps. Where this happens the number of reported rapes has decreased significantly. Next month the UN will launch a new information system that will record details of all incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, better data helping to ensure better prospects of prosecution. Separately, DFID is providing funding for protection as part of our humanitarian and rule of law programmes.

Sudan

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on UK Government (a) aid and (b) humanitarian assistance projects in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Hilary Benn: We are responding generously to the humanitarian needs of Sudan, including Darfur, contributing 70 million in 2005. We are doing this by directly supporting the UN humanitarian work plan, and by our funding of international NGOs and other agencies.
	In the main, our funding is not earmarked for any specific region, but a substantial proportion of our work plan contribution goes to the principal UN agencies working in Darfur, such as UNICEF (water and sanitation, especially in camps for displaced people), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Food Programme (emergency food supplies). Of the main international NGOs working in Darfur, we are supporting Oxfam (water); Goal (provision of basic humanitarian services); Medecins Sans Frontires (health care); Action Contre Faim (nutrition); and CARE (non-food humanitarian items). We are also supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross, who are working in priority areas of Darfur, often beyond the reach of other humanitarian agencies.
	The security and political situation in Darfur currently precludes the provision of significant development assistance there.

Ethiopia

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what means are available to the Department to use the allocation of overseas aid to create incentives for the Ethiopian Government to improve the political situation in that country.

Hilary Benn: HMG had previously agreed to provide direct budget support to Ethiopia. The terms of that agreement included mutual commitments, including commitments to the principles of good governance and democracy. In my view, recent political events amount to a breach of trust, and so I have decided that, in the current circumstances, DFID will not provide budget support but will seek to find other means to support the poorest in Ethiopia. I have emphasised to Prime Minister Meles that the only way to resolve the current political crisis is through inclusive political dialogue and the continuation of the democratisation process which we are ready to support. Our future assistance to Ethiopia will be designed with increased monitoring and accountability so we can be sure that the aid reaches the poor people who need it.

Ethiopia

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he next expects to visit Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), on 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1740W.

Pakistan (Earthquake Zone)

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department is assisting the Pakistani authorities to cope with winter conditions in the earthquake zone; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID is continuing to support helicopter provision throughout winter through support to the UN Humanitarian Air Service.
	DFID is airlifting further urgently needed items including 176,000 blankets, 125,000 16.6 metre ropes and 125,000 plastic sheets to reinforce tents that are not winterised. DFID is also delivering an additional 3,500 winterised tents.
	DFID funded Royal Engineers are providing emergency shelter building operations in remote high-altitude areas in the Bagh region.
	DFID continues to channel support through UN agencies and non-governmental organisations to ensure the provision of relief assistance throughout winter, including support to camp management, shelter, health, water and sanitation.

Aid Conditionality

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what written correspondence he has had with the (a) World Bank, (b) International Monetary Fund, (c) European Commission and (d) other G8 members on aid conditionality since March 2005.

Hilary Benn: Conditionality is an issue on which I and my officials are in ongoing discussions with a variety of partners, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the EC and other G8 countries. I wrote to the World Bank president in August 2005 regarding the UK's position on the World Bank's Review of Conditionality, this statement is available on the DFID website. DFID officials are engaging with the current evaluation and review of IMF policy conditions by the Independent Evaluation Office, and also meet regularly with the EC. During 2005 there was much written correspondence between senior DFID officials and G8 countries, including on conditionality.

Debt Relief

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much annual additional debt relief has been awarded to each of the 19 beneficiary countries as a result of the implementation by the International Monetary Fund of the decision taken at Gleneagles.

Hilary Benn: In response to the G8's proposals, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved approximately 1.78 billion worth of debt relief to 19 countries under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). The following table provides estimates of this debt relief by country on an annual basis.
	An additional 20 countries will qualify for IMF debt stock cancellation when they reach Completion Point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.
	Mauritania, which has already reached HIPC Completion Point, could also qualify for MDRI relief after certain remedial actions are taken.
	
		 million
		
			 Country 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total 
		
		
			 Benin 4.3 3.7 4.7 5.2 4.4 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 28.4 
			 Bolivia 27.2 49.1 44.7 17.1 4.0 1.6143.7 
			 Burkina Faso 6.1 8.9 9.6 7.9 6.7 5.2 2.5 0.8 0.2 48.1 
			 Cambodia 3.7 6.4 9.1 9.7 8.3 6.2 3.4 0.7  47.5 
			 Ethiopia 4.6 6.6 10.4 11.9 15.5 15.2 8.9 5.2 2.5 80.7 
			 Ghana 18.0 20.9 26.9 26.4 30.7 30.5 17.5 10.9 4.3 186.1 
			 Guyana 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.9 4.1 2.9 2.9 2.0 1.0 27.2 
			 Honduras 15.3 18.0 18.0 14.4 8.7 6.1 3.4 3.4 2.5 89.7 
			 Madagascar 10.6 12.6 14.4 18.1 19.6 12.4 9.5 7.6 3.8 108.7 
			 Mali 7.5 8.0 8.3 9.5 7.6 6.5 3.4 1.8 0.1 52.8 
			 Mozambique 12.0 13.5 14.9 13.7 8.9 4.4 2.4 1.0 0.2 71.0 
			 Nicaragua 6.6 8.7 10.0 11.9 12.6 9.3 9.2 6.9 3.4 78.6 
			 Niger 4.7 6.3 7.8 9.2 9.8 8.4 6.3 3.2 0.7 56.4 
			 Rwanda 8.8 10.3 9.4 7.5 5.1 2.0 0.4 0.2 0.1 43.9 
			 Senegal 17.5 19.8 14.8 10.9 7.6 5.2 1.9 0.8 0.2 78.9 
			 Tajikistan 8.9 8.9 8.7 5.7 7.0 5.9 5.9 4.5 2.4 57.9 
			 Tanzania 34.0 32.9 29.8 26.2 22.1 15.4 8.8 3.9 0.7 173.7 
			 Uganda 19.8 16.0 11.4 8.1 4.2 2.0 1.2 1.0 0.3 64.0 
			 Zambia 10.3 23.7 40.3 46.2 65.4 59.7 45.1 27.3 20.3 338.3 
			 Total 223.5 277.9 296.8 263.5 252.2 201.9 134.6 82.1 43.0 1,775.5 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures in the table are in United Kingdom Pounds (). They have been converted from International Monetary Fund data which is given in Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The exchange rates used was 0.82, the mid-market rate as at 10:00 am on 24 January 2006.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what monitoring of the use of (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Monitoring of the use of aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is conducted in accordance with standard DFID procedures that apply across all of the Department's programmes. For our bilateral aid, organisations implementing projects on behalf of DFID are required to submit regular, usually quarterly, financial and narrative reports on their activities. In addition, projects over 1 million require a full review to be undertaken by at least annually with recommendations for actions to maximise impact and a final completion report, including the lessons learned to inform future programming. Regular monitoring by DFID staff, who remain closely in touch with partner organisations throughout the duration of a project, is also an important part of the monitoring process.
	All multilateral agencies have their own internal monitoring and evaluation systems and DFID's work on reforming of the international system has included helping to strengthen these systems to deliver results at a country level. An example is DFID's use of the Multilateral Effectiveness Framework to assess the performance of multilateral agencies and make recommendations for improvement. The UK has a seat on the board of multilateral organisations, and so is involved in multilateral decision making including the development and review of country strategies and programmes.
	DFID also works jointly with multilateral agencies on many projects. DFID in the DRC works with multilateral agencies and other bilateral donors on justice, infrastructure, humanitarian, police, governance, HIV/AIDS and social sector projects. Working together in this way enables DFID to design, monitor and evaluate these programmes jointly with other donor organisations.
	One of the most important ways in which we monitor multilateral agencies' work is through daily discussion, sharing information and ideas, between DFID staff in the DRC and partners in the European Commission, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations on both the development of their overall strategies for the DRC and the implementation of individual programmes.

External Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has paid since 2004 to external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department in any capacity within the previous five years.

Hilary Benn: Since the beginning of 2004, the Department for International Development (DFID) has spent 407,781 on external consultants, who had been previously employed by the Department within the previous five years.

Illiteracy (Africa)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to tackle adult illiteracy in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The recent Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring report 'Literacy for Life' highlights the problems many people face through lack of literacy skills in sub-Saharan Africa.
	DFID plans to continue supporting the work of NGOs promoting literacy, such as Action Aid and GOAL. We welcome their focus on using literacy to empower women to play a key role in community affairs in addition to the education of their children.
	DFID is supporting the UN Decade for Literacy and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) new Literacy for Empowerment (LIFE) programme, through the active participation of DFID specialists and core funding to UNESCO. We have also supported pioneer work by the University of South Africa (UNISA) in training adult educators working in a variety of development sectors. In Kenya, we are supporting research by UNESCO's Institute of Statistics as part of its 'Literacy Assessment and Monitoring Programme'.
	Many countries in Africa are going through the second wave of the poverty reduction strategy (PRS) process. DFID considers this the major vehicle for encouraging African partner governments to invest more in adult literacy programmes through inter-disciplinary programmes.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Iraqi population have had access to safe drinking water for each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: The last reliable pre-conflict figures for safe water are for 2000, when urban and rural levels of access to safe water were estimated at 92 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively. The discriminatory policies of the former regime meant access varied significantly by region and was generally worse in the south. Access to safe water deteriorated as a result of the conflict and post-war looting in 2003. The immediate post-conflict coverage was estimated at 60 percent. for urban and 30 per cent. for rural populations. Since then, donors, including DFID, have worked hard to restore supplies, and we estimate that 1.25 million more Iraqis have access to safe drinking water than before the conflict.
	The best information we have on safe water supply in Iraq comes from the Iraq living Conditions Survey 2004 conducted by the Iraqi Central Office for Statistics and Information Technology in April/May 2004. This survey can be found at http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm
	In urban areas, 99 per cent. of households have access to safe drinking water but for 33 per cent. the supply is unreliable. In rural areas, 65 per cent. of households have access to safe drinking water, but for 22 per cent. the supply is unreliable.
	In most cases, the main barrier to access to safe drinking water is the condition of the pipelines, rather than the water supply itself. This is partly due to the tendency for insurgents to target water, electricity and oil pipelines, as well as the reconstruction staff working to repair them.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the rate of unemployment has been in Iraq for each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: No official figures on the Iraqi labour force exist, so only very broad estimates of unemployment are available, and we do not have information broken down by year exactly as requested. An International Labour Organisation (ILO) mission to Iraq in April/May 2000 estimated the unemployment rate as 50 to 60 per cent. The United Nations and World Bank social and economic needs assessments (carried out after the conflict in 2003) estimated that the unemployment rate before the 2003 war had been around 30 per cent.
	Current estimates for unemployment vary considerably. The Iraq Living Conditions Survey 2004, conducted by the Iraqi Central Office for Statistics and Information Technology in April/May 2004, estimates an unemployment rate of 10.5 per cent. This survey can be found at http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm The Brookings Institution (Iraq Index, January 2006) estimates the current unemployment rate to be between 28 and 40 per cent., noting varying estimates from the Iraqi Ministry for Planning (30 per cent.) and the Iraqi Ministry for Social Affairs (48 per cent.). In the same report the Brookings Institution gives the following estimates of unemployment rates in previous months:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 June 2003 50 to 60 
			 January 2004 30 to 45 
			 January 2005 27 to 40 
			 December 2005 25 to 40

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the infant mortality rate has been in Iraq in each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: Estimates of Iraq's infant mortality rate vary. The most detailed information we have on infant mortality rates in Iraq is the Iraq living Conditions Survey 2004 (ILCS) conducted by the Iraqi Central Office for Statistics and Information Technology in April/May 2004. This survey can be found at http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm This gives information about infant mortality for the period 19992003. We do not have a breakdown of the data by year as requested.
	For the period 19992003, the survey shows the infant mortality rate as 32 deaths per 1,000 births during the first year of life. The rate for girls was 29 per 1,000 for girls and 25 per 1,000 for boys. However, other estimates have reported significantly higher infant mortality rates, and the ILCS report acknowledges that their estimate may be too low because of under-reporting of child deaths.
	A 2003 report by Ali, Blacker and Jones (respectively of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and UNICEF), reported the 1998 infant mortality rate as 100.8 deaths per 1,000 births. The UN Population Database (2004 revision) estimated Iraq's infant mortality rate as 94.3 deaths per 1,000 births for the period 19952000. They use the same estimate of 94.3 per 1,000 for the period 20002005.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the economic growth rate has been in Iraq in each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: Under Saddam Hussein's regime between 2001 and 2003, the economy shrank at an average rate of 9 per cent. per annum. After the 2003 conflict the economy recovered, with an initial economic growth rate of 46 per cent. in 2004. In 2005, the Iraqi authorities were successful in promoting macroeconomic stability despite the extremely difficult security environment, and economic growth was a modest 2.6 per cent. These are estimates which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has accepted, but it acknowledges the data quality as poor. In 2006, the IMF predicts an increase in economic growth to 10 per cent., a reduction in inflation, and an increase in net international reserves, advancing Iraq's transition towards a market economy.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the life expectancy at birth has been in Iraq in each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not have a four year series of figures from the same source; using a variety of sources, the life expectancy at birth in Iraq is reported as follows:
	
		
			  Average life expectancy at birth (years)  
			  Males Females Source 
		
		
			 1997 58 59 Iraqi Central Statistical Organisation (GSO) 
			 2001 59.2 62.3 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
			 2003 50 61 World Health Organisation (WHO)

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the literacy rate has been in Iraq in each of the past four years.

Hilary Benn: The best information we have on literacy in Iraq is the Iraq Living Conditions Survey 2004 conducted by the Iraqi Central Office for Statistics and Information Technology in April/May 2004. This survey can be found at http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm.
	This tells us that two thirds of the adult Iraqi population; 65 per cent. claim to read and write without difficulty, and an additional 10 per cent. can read and write everyday material with some difficulty. In the younger age groups (aged 15 to 24), literacy rates are slightly higher than for the population at large: 71 per cent. claim to read and write without difficulty. There are significant differences in literacy by region and gender. This compares with adult literacy rates of 86 per cent. in Jordan, 75 per cent. in Syria and 53 per cent. in Yemen.
	Accurate figures for previous years are not readily available, since the last population survey took place in 1997.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the school enrolment rates have been in Iraq in each of the past five years for (a) girls and (b) boys, broken down by (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

Hilary Benn: The best information we have on school enrolment rates in Iraq is the Iraq living Conditions Survey 2004 conducted by the Iraqi Central Office for Statistics and information technology in April/May 2004. This survey can be found at:
	http://www.iq.undp.org/ILCS/overview.htm. It gives good information for 2004, but we do not have comparable data for the other years requested.
	This survey tells us that in 2004, 79 per cent. of primary school age children were enrolled in school (83 per cent. for boys, 75 per cent. for girls). The net enrolment rate in intermediate school (lower secondary, covering ages 1316) is 41 per cent. (47 per cent. for boys and 36 per cent. for girls). In secondary school (upper secondary, covering ages 1618) the net enrolment rate is 36 per cent. (40 per cent. for boys, 32 per cent. for girls).
	The Arab human development report (2003) estimates the primary school enrolment rate was 100 per cent. for boys and 85.66 per cent. for girls in 19992000. The secondary school enrolment rate was estimated at 39.6 per cent. for boys and 26.04 per cent for girls in the same period.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the rate of oil production has been in Iraq in each of the last four years.

Hilary Benn: Iraq reached its highest production levels; 3.5 million barrels per day (mbd)just before its invasion of Kuwait in July 1990, before exports were halted by an international boycott. After the first Gulf War, oil production fell to about 500,000 barrels per day, enough for domestic consumption. (Figures taken from the US Congressional Research Service's Report to Congress on Iraq Oil, April 2005.) When the United Nations Oil for Food Programme started in December 1996, oil exports increased, although export levels were sporadic as a result of various disagreements between Iraq, its customers and the United Nations. During 1999 to 2001, production averaged 2.49 mbd and in 2002 Iraq's crude oil production rate was an estimated 2.02 mbd (source: US Energy Information Administration). Since the Second Gulf War, output has varied considerably as security problems and sabotage have disrupted the flow of crude oil to terminals in Turkey and the Persian Gulf; however, prices have remained high.
	With 115 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, Iraq has the world's second largest oil reserves, amounting to 11 per cent. of the global total (the largest is Saudi Arabia with 260 billion barrels). Only 17 of 80 oil fields have been developed; the most significant are Kirkuk in the north and Rumayla in the south.
	The following table shows rates of oil production in Iraq from 200305.
	
		
			  Millions of barrels/day 
			 Time Crude oil production Crude oil export 
		
		
			 Estimated Prewar Level 2.5 (prewar peak) 1.72.5 
			 May 2003 0.3 0 
			 June 0.675 0.2 
			 July 0.925 0.322 
			 August 1.445 0.646 
			 September 1.7225 0.983 
			 October 2.055 1.149 
			 November 2.1 1.524 
			 December 2.30 1.541 
			 January 2004 2.44 1.537 
			 February 2.276 1.382 
			 March 2.435 1.825 
			 April 2.384 1.804 
			 May 1.887 1.380 
			 June 2.295 1.148 
			 July 2.2 1.406 
			 August 2.112 1.114 
			 September 2.514 1.703 
			 October 2.46 1.542 
			 November 1.95 1.320 
			 December 2.16 1.520 
			 January 2005 2.10 1.367 
			 February 2.10 1.431 
			 March 2.09 1.394 
			 April 2.14 1.398 
			 May 2.1 1.308 
			 June 2.17 1.377 
			 July 2.17 1.550 
			 August 2.16 1.504 
			 September 2.11 1.609 
			 October 1.91 1.239 
			 November 1.98 1.168 
			 December 1.92 1.071 
		
	
	The following table shows actual oil revenues from these exports:
	
		
			 Time Oil revenue ($ billion) 
		
		
			 June 2003 0.2 
			 July 0.36 
			 August 0.44 
			 September 0.73 
			 October 0.89 
			 November 1.21 
			 December 1.26 
			 Total 2003 5.09 
			 January 2004 1.26 
			 February 1.10 
			 March 1.61 
			 April 1.50 
			 May 1.36 
			 June 1.28 
			 July 1.40 
			 August 1.24 
			 September 1.75 
			 October 1.99 
			 November 1.25 
			 December 1.44 
			 Total 2004 17.18 
			   
			 January 2005 1.49 
			 February 1.34 
			 March 1.99 
			 April 1.83 
			 May 1.57 
			 June 2.03 
			 July 2.47 
			 August 2.63 
			 September 2.74 
			 October 1.89 
			 November 1.34 
			 December 1.36 
			 Total 2005 22.68 
			 Total as of 4 January 2006 44.95 
		
	
	Source:
	Brookings Institution, Iraq Index (January 2006)

Somalia

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance his Department is giving to Somalia in the financial year 200506; and if he will make a statement on his Department's programme for Somalia.

Hilary Benn: DFID's programme for Somalia amounts to approximately 12 million for the financial year of 200506 and is set to increase to around 21 million by 200708. We also expect to provide an additional 1.2 million to Somalia from HMG's Africa conflict prevention pool this financial year. Our programme is based on our commitment to reducing poverty by supporting peace and reconciliation in Somalia, contributing to humanitarian needs, improving governance, and expanding health and education services.
	DFID has contributed to the new government's relocation costs, and are providing police advice, and support in economic analysis. With other donors, we are assisting planning for recovery, reconstruction and development through the UN/World Bank-led joint needs assessment. Access to basic services remains a major challenge. DFID is funding the publication of primary school text books and our humanitarian programme supports basic health care, supplementary feeding and basic livelihoods recovery. DFID is also funding HIV/AIDS prevention which complements the global fund support.

Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total UK aid to Somalia granted (a) directly and (b) through multilateral sources was in each of the last five years; and what major projects have been funded.

Hilary Benn: DFID's programme for Somalia amounts to approximately 12 million in the financial year of 200506 and is set to increase to around 21 million by 200708. We also expect to provide an additional 1.2 million to Somalia from HMG's Africa conflict prevention pool this financial year. Our programme is based on our commitment to reducing poverty by supporting peace and reconciliation in Somalia, contributing to humanitarian needs, improving governance, and expanding health and education services.
	DFID has contributed to the new government's relocation costs, and is providing police advice, and support in economic analysis. With other donors, DFID is assisting planning for recovery, reconstruction and development through the UN/World Bank-led joint needs assessment. Access to basic services remains a major challenge. We are funding the publication of primary school text books and our humanitarian programme supports basic health care, supplementary feeding and basic livelihoods recovery. DFID is also funding HIV/AIDS prevention which complements the global fund support.
	In the following table are details of the UK's aid programme to Somalia for the last five financial years up to the end of financial year 200405 and a breakdown of the UK's share of multilateral expenditure for the five calendar years up to 2003 (the latest periods for which figures are available).
	
		Total DFID and gross public expenditure to Somalia: 200001200405
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200001 1480 
			 200102 1739 
			 200203 3124 
			 200304 3973 
			 200405 5320 
		
	
	
		Total imputed multilateral shares to Somalia
		
			  million 
			  EC Other UN World Bank Grand total 
		
		
			 1999 1.6 0.0 0.8 0.0 2.4 
			 2000 3.5 0.0 1.0 0.0 4.5 
			 2001 2.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 3.8 
			 2002 1.9 0.0 0.9 0.0 2.8 
			 2003 2.8 0.0 0.8 0.0 3.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistics on International Development and SRSG database date 19 January 2006

Somaliland

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the bilateral demining project in Somaliland in 200405.

Hilary Benn: DFID is funding HALO Trust in Somaliland at present to undertake demining and clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO). 244,000 was provided in 200405 and further support of 141,000 is committed for 200506. DFID is presently reviewing HALO Trust's latest report of its work.
	DFID's explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and demining advisor visited Somaliland in 2003 to review mine action with the Somaliland authorities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), HALO Trust and other relevant agencies. Although our adviser has not visited the area since then, he is in regular contact with the UNDP about mine action issues in the country.
	As Somaliland is severely affected by the aftermath of conflict, we continue to take an interest in mine action and UXO clearance and keep the situation under review.

Somaliland

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to establish an office of his Department in Somaliland; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: I do not have any plans to establish an office in Somaliland. Our programme continues to be run from DFID's offices in London and in Nairobi.

Women's Rights

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on the promotion of women's rights in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: Eliminating gender inequality and promoting women's empowerment are essential to the achievement of all the millennium development goals (MDGs), not just MDG3 which focuses on women. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development and I are regularly involved in discussions both internally and with external contacts on issues relevant to women's rights and empowerment. For example, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State raised issues relating to social exclusion and women's rights in a high-level panel discussion during the millennium review summit in September and subsequently discussed the issue of gender equality in education when he gave evidence to the International Development Committee at their session on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings and the summit in October.
	At a country level, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had the opportunity to raise these issues during his visit to Bangladesh in December, where our strategy focuses on women and children. The Beijing high level group/education fast track initiative meeting which I attended in China on 1 December, also provided the opportunity to discuss the importance of girls' education, and to highlight the links between girls' education and reducing HIV infection. As part of our work on HIV and AIDS, we emphasise the unequal impact on women and their greater vulnerability, and on the occasion of world AIDS day, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the progressive EU statement on prevention that emphasises women's rights.
	Issues of gender equality and the impact of development programmes on women are considered in preparation of DFID country assistance plans, and over the next year, we will be looking to see how we can strengthen this process given the increased emphasis in our development assistance on direct budgetary support. We recognise that no serious strategy for achieving the millennium development goals can fail to address gender inequality and women's empowerment as a central concern, and we are working to ensure that gender issues are made a priority across our work.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last discussed with African heads of government the assistance required to promote constitutional government in Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: It is encouraging that the African Commission on human and peoples' rights, at its recent meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, issued a report which clearly condemned the human rights violations currently being perpetrated in Zimbabwe. This reflects the wide interest in Zimbabwe across Africa, and the growing impatience of its leaders with the poor governance under Robert Mugabe. I meet African leaders in my frequent travels to Africa (most recently to Kenya and Ethiopia), at international meetings and in the UK. Zimbabwe is frequently among the topics discussed.

PRIME MINISTER

Iran (Nuclear Programme)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on Iran's nuclear programme.

Tony Blair: I last met the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon on 22 December 2004 during my trip to the Middle East. We discussed a wide range of issues, including Iran's nuclear programme.

Iraq

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister what reports he has received of countries which apply rules of extra-territoriality in judicial matters that they are reviewing his role in Iraq with a view to future prosecution.

Tony Blair: I have received no such reports.

Orams Case (Cyprus)

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from foreign governments on the involvement of his wife as counsel in the Orams case in Cyprus; whether he has discussed the matter with the Foreign Secretary; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Mrs. Blair is acting in a private capacity.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Comptroller and Auditor General Report

Brooks Newmark: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, when the Speaker's Committee will publish the Comptroller and Auditor General's statutory value for money report on the Electoral Commission for 200304.

Peter Viggers: At its meeting on 13 December 2005, the Speaker's Committee agreed to publish this report, which deals with the Commission's expenditure on training electoral staff for the European Parliamentary Elections held in June 2004, as an Appendix to its Third Report 2005. This report was laid before the House on 20 December 2005 as House of Commons Paper No 783. Copies have been placed in the Library and are available in the Vote Office.

WALES

List 99

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about the operation of List 99 in schools in Wales; and what the date was of the last such discussions.

Peter Hain: The Department for Education and Skills is responsible for barring and restricting teachers in both England and Wales.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills briefed me and other Cabinet colleagues on issues arising from the operation of List 99 shortly before her statement to the House on 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 96670. I, as the rest of Government, wholeheartedly support her in the actions she described to tighten the vetting and barring system.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the Home Secretary concerning the implementation of the National Offender Management Service in Wales; and when those representations were made.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend about matters concerning Wales. My right hon. Friend has also discussed the implementation of the National Offender Management Service in Wales with the Assembly Government's Minister for Social Justice.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Administrative Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total administration costs for her core Department are; and whether these are regarded as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses.

Bridget Prentice: The information is as follows.
	(a) The total (net) administration budget for the core departments of Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) as per audited Resource Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2005 was 915 million, ie:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 DCA Headquarters and Associated Offices 352 
			 Court Service (CS) 547 
			 Public Guardian Office (PGO) 16 
		
	
	(b) For the purposes of 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005' (PESA) published as National Statistics annually by the HM Treasury, the administration budget of DCA HQ and Associated Offices (352 million) and PGO (16 million), totalling 370 million were regarded as identifiable. While the CS spending on 'collective services' was regarded as non-identifiable, ie:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Identifiable costs 370 
			 Non-identifiable 547 
		
	
	The administration expenditure reflects the costs of running the Department. Net administration budget includes administrative staff salaries, accommodation charges, depreciation and associated operating income.

Administrative Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the administrative costs were of each agency for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Bridget Prentice: The information is as follows.
	(a) The total (net) administration budget for each of the two Executive agencies of Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) for which she has responsibility as per audited Resource Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2005 were:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Court Service 547 
			 Public Guardian Office 16 
		
	
	(b) For the purposes of 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005' (PESA) published as National Statistics annually by the HM Treasury, the administration budget of the Public Guardian Office was regarded as identifiable and the Court Service spending on collective services as non-identifiable respectively.
	The administration expenditure reflects the costs of running the Department. Net administration costs include administrative staff salaries, accommodation charges, depreciation and associated operating income.

Administrative Costs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the administrative costs were of each non-departmental public body for which she has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Bridget Prentice: The information is as follows.
	(a) The DCA has two NDPBs, Legal Services Commission (LSC) and the Information Commissioner's (IC). In accordance with Government Accounting guidelines, these bodies are classified as outside the administration budget regime.
	(b) For the purposes of 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005', PES (2004) 20 (Annex D (Classification of Spending as 'Identifiable' or 'Non-identifiable')), the LSC spending and IC spending were regarded as identifiable and non-identifiable respectively.

Data-Sharing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the documents her Department has published on data-sharing between public sector organisations since 2001.

Harriet Harman: In November 2003 DCA published authoritative legal guidance on data-sharing called Public Sector Data Sharing Guidance on the Law. A public sector toolkit on data-sharing has also been published by DCA. The public service guarantee was published in October 2004. These documents can be found at:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/sharing/index.htm

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones her Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year.

Harriet Harman: Details of the number of laptops bought by my Department since 1999, and their cost, are listed in the following table. We do not hold information for the earlier years.
	
		
			  Number Cost () 
		
		
			 1999 399 438,900 
			 2000 383 494,623 
			 2001 239 311,520 
			 2002 131 183,205 
			 2003 382 507,293 
			 2004 190 233,598 
			 2005 2,926 3,475,150 
		
	
	The Department's mobile phones are provided through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) contracts with Vodafone and Orange. The contracts provide a package of services including a phone, SIM card and network access. The package also provides the purchaser with a 50 credit, which is designed to cover either the cost of the phone or as an airtime credit. It is therefore not possible to separately identify the cost of a phone.
	Any purchases made solely for a phone, outside of these contracts, would have been placed locally, for which records are not held centrally. That information could only now be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff (Disciplinary Actions)

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in her Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: My Department has a conduct policy and supporting procedures which have been brought to the attention of all staff via the departmental intranet, internal publications and induction and management training. There is a range of sanctions which can be applied in cases of misconduct, up to and including dismissal. Dismissal might be justified for instances of gross misconduct for a first offence or for repeated instances of serious or minor misconduct.
	Data for the number of employees against whom disciplinary action has been commenced, or in respect of whom disciplinary sanctions, short of dismissal, have been applied is only recorded on individual files. These are retained for the appropriate period before removal and destruction in compliance with the Department's obligations under the Data Protection Act. It is therefore not possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs. The number of employees who have been dismissed on disciplinary grounds in the past five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 14 
			 200102 13 
			 200203 27 
			 200304 30 
			 200405 43

External Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much her Department has paid since 2004 to external consultants who had previously been employed by the Department in any capacity within the previous five years.

Harriet Harman: Although there have been instances in which former civil servants have been re-employed directly by the Department, no information is held centrally about any who may have been engaged as external consultantseither directly or via independent consulting firms and could only be obtained at disproportionate .

Fixed Penalty Notices (Postal Codes)

Joan Walley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which postal code areas are dealt with by the Central Finance Unit at Rugeley in respect of fixed penalty notices.

Harriet Harman: The Central Finance and Enforcement Unit at Rugeley serves all postal code areas within Staffordshire. The postal code areas are:-
	B77, B78, B79,
	DE13, DE14, DE15,
	DY7,
	ST1 ,ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST8,
	ST10, ST11, ST12, ST13, ST14, ST15, ST16, ST17, ST18,
	ST19,ST20,ST21,
	WS3, WS6, WS7,
	WS11, WS12, WS13, WS14, WS15, WS19,
	WV4, WV5, WV6, WV8, WV9, WV18.

Freedom of Information

Peter Law: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 during its first year in force; and what estimate she has made of the cost of its implementation to (a) central Government and its agencies and (b) local government.

Harriet Harman: I am confident that the Freedom of Information Act is working and working well. It is estimated that in the first year of its operation, major central Government bodies alone received approximately 36,000 FOI requests. In the third quarter of 2005, for those bodies whose performance is monitored by DCA, 67 per cent. of resolvable requests resulted in the full disclosure of information. For local government and the wider public sector, anecdotal evidence also suggests that there has been a large number of valuable releases of information on issues that matter to the public.
	My Department has made no estimate to date of the cost of the implementation of FOI to either (1) central Government or its agencies, or (2) local government.

Legal Aid

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the change in criminal legal aid rates has been over the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: There are different rates prescribed for the many separate schemes across a variety of services provided within the criminal defence service (CDS). The changes to the prescribed basic legal aid rates for work in the criminal courts are set in the following table.
	
		Defence legal aid rates Changes to the prescribed rates: Magistrates court proceedings, Crown court and Court of Appeal (Criminal) Proceedings
		
			  
		
		
			 1995 Solicitors' rates and counsels' Crown court standard fee rates increased by 2 percent. 
			 1996 Solicitors' rates and junior barristers' rates increased by 1.5 percent. 
			 1997 Nil uprating. 
			 1998 Nil uprating. 
			 1999 Nil uprating. 
			 2000 Nil uprating. 
			 2001 Magistrates courtGeneral Criminal Contract launched with an overall effect of an overall increase of 7.25 percent., though the increase in rates varied between classes of work. 
			  Criminal higher courtsRemuneration changes in October with the introduction of a common graduated fee scheme by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service for advocates in all trials lasting up to 25 days in the Crown court. The effect of those changes was to raise total remuneration for one to 10 day cases by about 3.2 million and to leave the level of remuneration for 11 to 25 day cases broadly the same. These changes also included changes in the graduated fee scheme to allow for some payment for conferences and the attendance fee for plea and directions hearings was increased from 75 to 100. 
			 2002 Contract mileage rate under the General Criminal Contract increased to 45p 
			  Nil remuneration uprating. 
			 2003 Nil uprating. 
			 2004 Februarytelephone fixed fee implemented for police station advice and assistance. 30.25 national/31.45 London. 
			  OctoberDuty Solicitor. Serious offences rate introduced for police station advice and attendance at 80 per unsocial hour and 60 per hour at other times. Overall impact to introduce 3 million new money. 
			  Criminal courtsRemuneration changes in August to the Very High Cost Criminal case contract rates and Criminal Graduated Fee schemes. The effects of the changes were: to reduce bureaucracy for the Bar by taking some 50 percent., of VHCC cases into an extended graduated fee scheme, which now covers cases up to 40 days; raising the graduated fee rates for 11 to 25 day cases to the level which was expected in 2001 when the scheme was introduced and carrying those rates through to the 40 day extension; all Category 4 VHCC cases will be paid at the same rates as Category 3 VHCC cases; substantially increasing refreshers so that the same rate is now paid for Category 2 and 3 cases as for Category 1; moving terrorism cases into Category 1; moving under five-year advocate call rates to over five-year call rates. This settlement was a package to the Bar worth approximately 17 million. 11 million came from changes to the VHCCC scheme, and a further 6 million from the changes made to the 11 to 25 day graduated fee scheme where we made good the unintended shortfall that had occurred since the scheme was extended to 25 days on October 2001. 
			 2005 OctoberCuts in rates paid in some graduated fee and Very High Cost Criminal case contracts (to both advocate's and litigator's rates). Extension of the existing graduated fee scheme for cracks and guilty pleas. Estimated savings in RAB terms from these additional measures, excluding Cracks and Guilties, are 5.1 million and 20.8 million for 200506, 200607 respectively. The extension of the Cracks and Guilties schemes is anticipated to increase savings by an estimated total of 20 million over 200506 and 200607.

National Mediation Helpline

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the National Mediation Helpline.

Harriet Harman: The National Mediation Helpline is a departmentally funded scheme that has been set up to help court users and the general public settle their disputes, and where appropriate refer the caller to a low cost mediation.
	Since the Helpline started at the end of November 2004 it has received over 2,600 calls, and in the past five months, records show there have been over 6,000 visits to the supporting website (www.nationalmediationhelpline.com).
	At the end of 2005, the Helpline had arranged 81 mediations with a total of 71 settling on the day or within 14 days of the mediationa settlement rate of 87 per cent.
	The Helpline is being piloted for a further year, and progress will be reviewed in autumn 2006.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases the Information Commissioner has considered in relation to the Valuation Office Agency since the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act; and what the ruling of the Commissioner was in each case.

Harriet Harman: The Information Commissioner's Office has considered four complaints from individuals about the Valuation Office Agency and disclosures of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
	In two cases the complainants were advised, in accordance with the Act, that they needed to seek an internal review of their complaint by the Valuation Office Agency before the Commissioner would consider their complaints. In a third case, as the complainant did not provide enough information to allow the Commissioner to investigate, the case was closed with no action being taken.
	In the final case the Information Commissioner did investigate and issued a Decision Notice in June 2005. The Commissioner decided that the agency had not dealt with the complainant's request in accordance with the requirements of part 1 of the Act in that it failed to comply with s1(1) or s17 within the time limit set out in s10(1). The complainant was provided with the information he requested.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Aliens (Removal)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens facing removal are signing on regularly at his Department.

Tony McNulty: We do not use such an offensive term as aliens. For the purpose of this question, aliens in the country who are removable is taken to mean failed asylum seekers and other immigration offenders who have no legal basis upon which to remain in the UK. The information requested, on the number of people in the country illegally who are facing removal and are signing on regularly at this Department, is not available. This information could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received reports concerning the monitoring of returned asylum seekers to the Democratic Republic of Congo by state officials; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I am aware of allegations such as those raised in the BBC World Service Assignment programme on 16 November 2005 and a subsequent BBC article of one December 2005 that failed asylum seekers are subject to mistreatment on return.

Bicester Accommodation Centre

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparatory work his Department instructed GSL UK Ltd. to undertake on site A at Ministry of Defence Bicester as part of the project to build an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: GSL were not instructed to carry out any preparatory work on site A. All site enabling works were carried out by contractors working for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Bicester Accommodation Centre

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the contract between his Department and GSL UK Ltd. to build an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester.

Tony McNulty: Arrangements are being made to place a copy in the Library following appropriate scrutiny and removal of sensitive matters.

Bicester Accommodation Centre

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department was of submitting detailed design plans for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester to the planning inquiry.

Tony McNulty: None.
	No planning inquiry was held to consider the reserved matters, and, thereby, the detailed designs.

Civil Service Relocation (Scotland)

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The existing Home Office personnel systems are designed to show moves of people not posts. The only information the Department holds is based on moves between buildings where 10 or more staff move on the same day, and all the relocations that can be identified are within the same city or area. Since 2001, there have been no such relocations of departmental civil service jobs to Scotland.

Criminal Records Bureau

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a deadline by which police checks via the Criminal Records Bureau should be completed.

Andy Burnham: Section 119 of the Police Act, 1997, which underpins the CRB Disclosure service states that
	where the chief officer of a police force receives a request under section 115 or 116 he shall comply with it as soon as practicable.

Departmental Staff

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by his Department in each (a) region and (b) nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The number of staff employed in each area (a) region and (b) nation of the UK, please see the table.
	
		Core HO and IND
		
			 Country Regional(5) Region(5) 
		
		
			 England Croydon 6,478 
			  Dover 67 
			  East 428 
			  Gatwick 549 
			  Heathrow 1,854 
			  Liverpool 1,610 
			  London 5,478 
			  Midlands 484 
			  North East 2,033 
			  North West 658 
			  South East 1,491 
			  South West 40 
			  West 92 
			 England total  21,262 
			 Scotland total Scotland 287 
			 Wales total Wales 101 
			 Northern Ireland total Northern Ireland 29 
			 Other(6) total  391 
			 All staff Total 22,070 
		
	
	(5) Region as centrally recorded on personnel systems
	(6) base location outside UK, or unrecorded, or withheld for reasons of security
	
		HMPS
		
			 Region Full-time equivalent staff in post 
		
		
			 East Midlands 5,066 
			 Eastern 4,224 
			 London 5,607 
			 North East 3,486 
			 North West 5,875 
			 South West 3,751 
			 West Midlands 4,982 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 5,377 
			 South East 7,777 
			 England total 46,145 
			 Wales 980 
			 Scotland 0 
			 Total 47,125 
		
	
	
		UKPA
		
			 Region Total staff 
		
		
			 Belfast 148 
			 Glasgow 306 
			 Scotland total 454 
			 Durham 698 
			 HQ 301 
			 Liverpool 473 
			 London 349 
			 Newport 400 
			 Peterborough 515 
			 England total 2,736 
			 Scotland total 3,251 
			 Total 3,190

Entry Clearance

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of each country from which a visa is required applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 for temporary purposes, including visitor and student applications; how many visas were issued for temporary purposes; how many recipients of these visas returned to their country of nationality before the visas expired; and how many applied (i) to remain permanently in the United Kingdom and (ii) for political asylum.

Tony McNulty: Entry clearance data are available by visa post of application, which is not necessarily the country of the applicant's nationality. Financial year data on applications and issues are published annually. Copies of the publication are available from the UK Visas website at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1006977150151 Statistics on grants of settlement (indefinite leave to enter and remain) by main nationality are published annually in the Command Paper 'Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom'. Information on asylum applications, initial decisions, appeals and removals are published quarterly and annually.
	Information for 2003 and 2004 is published in the annual bulletin 'Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2004', and the aforementioned mentioned Command Paper. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2005, Official Report, column 1254W, on equality and diversity, what definition of inappropriate behaviour was used; what testing was undertaken; and what conclusions were drawn in relation to the Home Office 2005 senior management promotion exercises.

Charles Clarke: Inappropriate behaviour was considered in terms of two skills from the Home Office Core Competency FrameworkPromotes Equal Opportunity and Develops Good Working Relationships. Though these are defined positively in terms of treating people fairly and developing effective working relationships with others, both may be demonstrated in a range of inappropriate ways.
	A range of exercises was designed to enable candidates to present evidence of their understanding of appropriate and inappropriate ways of handling different kinds of diversity-related situations. Candidates were tested through:
	Written In-tray exercise
	This is a management problem solving scenario which includes the assessment of Develops Good Working Relationships.
	Interview
	Candidates were presented with two short realistic diversity-related situations followed by questions on how they would deal with the situation (and why), assessing the skill Promotes Equal Opportunity.
	Video Incident Exercise
	Candidates were presented with two short video clips of diversity related situations to assess Promotes Equal Opportunity and Develops Good Working Relationships.
	As with the Interview, candidates were asked questions to test their insight into the scenario and appropriateness of their responses. The 2005 Grade 7 Assessment Centre has not yet finished and no conclusions have yet been drawn.

Home Detention Curfews

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2031W, on home detention curfews, how many of those offenders on home detention curfews that were recalled to custody were recalled for committing a criminal offence in each year since 1999.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Act

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those detained under Immigration Act powers have been in detention for (a) less than one month, (b) over one month but less than three months and (c) over three months.

Tony McNulty: Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of people detained under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter and these can be broken down by length of detention. Information on the number of persons detained, as at 24 September 2005, broken down by length of detention, are published in the Quarterly Asylum Bulletin, on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to questions (a) 20379, (b) 20380 and (c) 20381 tabled by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 18 October.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 345W.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prisoners entering adult prisons and (b) under 21-year-olds entering young offenders institutions on their first custodial sentence could not read or write to a sufficiently high standard to apply for a job via a job centre (i) at the beginning and (ii) at the end of their sentence in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not collate the information requested centrally, however Home Office statistics show that 37 per cent. of prisoners have reading skills below level 1. (Prison Statistics for England and Wales 2002).
	As a result of learning and skills provision in prisons, the number of basic skills awards achieved by offenders in custody exceeded 63,000 in 200405 and the National Probation Directorate exceeded its annual target for basic skills awards with nearly 9,500 awards achieved by offenders in the community.
	The Green Paper, Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment (Cm 6702) launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 15 December, set out the Government's strategy to improve the skills and job prospects of all offenders, so that more offenders secure employment in order to reduce re-offending.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the quality of management and leadership in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service is about to start developing a new qualifications framework which will provide pre-promotion development for managers at all levels. It is anticipated that implementation will start in 2007.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were assessed as having a serious drug problem in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: In 200405, 59,025 initial assessments were completed by prison CARATs (counselling, assessment, referral, advice and through-care services ) teams. Research showed that on average 74 per cent. of those assessed by CARATs took two or more different drugs in the month before custody, with 39 per cent. taking both heroine and crack cocaine in this period.

Probation Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation hostels there are; and what the capacity is of each.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of bed spaces in the 101 Approved Premises in England and Wales, as of 30 April 2005, are in the table. In addition, three Prospects projects have now opened providing an additional 32 beds, 24 of these are in the South West Region and eight in the North West. These are pilot projects providing specialist services for residents with a history of offending linked to drug misuse. These bring the current number of Approved Premises in England and Wales to 104.
	
		
			 Region Number of male bed spaces Number of female bed spaces Total 
		
		
			 East Midlands 147 14 161 
			 East of England 146 12 158 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 314 29 343 
			 North West 342 40 382 
			 London 278 18 296 
			 West Midlands 230 26 256 
			 South West 171 9 180 
			 South East 203 28 231 
			 North East 125 6 131 
			 Wales 88 9 97 
			 Total 2,044 191 2,235

Probation Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on the work of the Probation Service of transfers of prisoners between establishments; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: An initial evaluation of the Offender Management Pathfinder project in the North West of England, published last summer, identified the transfer of prisoners as one of the challenges to implementing effective offender management. The report is available on the Home Office website as Home Office Online Report 32/05. The Prison Service aims to keep the transfer of prisoners to a minimum subject to operational priorities and circumstances.

Respect Action Plan

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was of the production of the 'Respect Action Plan' document; and how many copies have been printed.

Hazel Blears: The total costs for publishing the Respect Action Plan including editing proof reading, Type setting and Translating into Welsh was 101,000. In total 105,000 copies were printed.

Sexual Assault

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to enable sexual assault referral centres to develop the use of forensic nurses to undertake examinations of service users reporting rape or sexual assault.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office funded an independent evaluation of the forensic nurse examiner role at St. Mary's SARC in Manchester, published in 2004. We have since supported the development of a national training course for sexual assault forensic nurse examiners, the start-up costs for which have been funded by the Department of Health. This year the Home Office has also made a grant to the SAFE Centre, Lancashire, to fund a forensic nurse examiner post.

Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 30, (iii) 31 to 35, (iv) 36 to 40 and (v) over 40 years were (A) charged with and (B) convicted of (1) failing to comply with a road sign, (2) offences under sections (x) 14(3), (y) 15(2) and (z) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, (3) failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis, (4) failing to stop for a police constable and (5) disobeying a police constable stopping traffic in (aa) Essex police area and (bb) Southend police area in 2004;
	(2)  how many (a) males and (b) females committed offences in England and Wales under sections (i) 14(3), (ii) 15(2) and (iii) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in 2004.

Paul Goggins: Statistics on persons charged with a crime are not centrally collected. Available data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for Essex police force area, South East Essex petty sessional area and England and Wales, 2004 is contained in the following tables. It is not possible to identify Southend police area as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty of certain motoring offences in South East Essex petty sessional area and Essex police force area, 2004(7)
		
			  
			Male 
			   Offence description  Principal statute 17 to 24 years 25 to 30 years 31 to 35 years 36 to 40 years over 40 years 
		
		
			  South East Essex petty sessional area   
			 818/0111 Fail to comply with traffic light signals/sign Road Traffic Ac 1988 S.36(1); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1 994 S.2(10) 5 4 7 2 5 
			 818/02 Driving on prohibited road Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 SS.5(i), 16 and 20  
			 818/90 Other offences of neglect of traffic directions Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.35(1)(2), 36(1), 163(3); Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.28(3); Traffic Management Act 2004 S.6 48 43 28 25 93 
			 825/02 Driving/riding in motor vehicle not wearing seat belt; Driving motor vehicle with child not wearing seat belt Road Traffic Act 1988 S.14(3), 15(2)(4) 1 4 1  1 
			 803/03 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6) 11 10 7 5 12 
			 803/06 In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6)   1 1 2 
			 803/07 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for preliminary test. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.6(4) 11 
		
	
	
		
			Female 
			   Offence description  Principal statute 17 to 24 years 25 to 30 years 31 to 35 years 36 to 40 years over 40 years 
		
		
			  South East Essex petty sessional area   
			 818/0111 Fail to comply with traffic light signals/sign Road Traffic Ac 1988 S.36(1); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1 994 S.2(10)  1  2 2 
			 818/02 Driving on prohibited road Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 SS.5(i), 16 and 20  
			 818/90 Other offences of neglect of traffic directions Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.35(1)(2), 36(1), 163(3); Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.28(3); Traffic Management Act 2004 S.6 12 19 9 11 40 
			 825/02 Driving/riding in motor vehicle not wearing seat belt; Driving motor vehicle with child not wearing seat belt Road Traffic Act 1988 S.14(3), 15(2)(4) 1 1   1 
			 803/03 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6) 1 2  1  
			 803/06 In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6)1  
			 803/07 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for preliminary test. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.6(4)  
		
	
	
		
			Male 
			   Offence description  Principal statute 17 to 24 years 25 to 30 years 31 to 35 years 36 to 40 years over 40 years 
		
		
			  Essex police force area   
			 818/0111 Fail to comply with traffic light signals/sign Road Traffic Ac 1988 S.36(1); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1 994 S.2(10) 11 18 15 12 32 
			 818/02 Driving on prohibited road Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 SS.5(i), 16 and 20 1 
			 818/90 Other offences of neglect of traffic directions Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.35(1 )(2), 36(1), 163(3); Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.28(3); Traffic Management Act 2004 S.6 145 149 106 105 386 
			 825/02 Driving/riding in motor vehicle not wearing seat belt; Driving motor vehicle with child not wearing seat belt Road Traffic Act 1988 S.14(3), 15(2)(4) 6 7 2 3 8 
			 803/03 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6) 44 57 38 35 59 
			 803/06 In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6)   1 1 2 
			 803/07 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for preliminary test. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.6(4) 1 3 1  4 
		
	
	
		
			Female 
			   Offence description  Principal statute 17 to 24 years 25 to 30 years 31 to 35 years 36 to 40 years over 40 years 
		
		
			  Essex police force area   
			 818/0111 Fail to comply with traffic light signals/sign Road Traffic Ac 1988 S.36(1); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1 994 S.2(10) 3 4 2 6 11 
			 818/02 Driving on prohibited road Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 SS.5(i), 16 and 20  
			 818/90 Other offences of neglect of traffic directions Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.35(1 )(2), 36(1), 163(3); Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.28(3); Traffic Management Act 2004 S.6 53 55 54 47 179 
			 825/02 Driving/riding in motor vehicle not wearing seat belt; Driving motor vehicle with child not wearing seat belt Road Traffic Act 1988 S.14(3), 15(2)(4) 1 1  4 4 
			 803/03 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6) 6 7 7 6 15 
			 803/06 In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle Road Traffic Act 1988 S.7(6)1  
			 803/07 Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for preliminary test. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.6(4)  
		
	
	(7) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Visas

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications made in the United Kingdom for a spouse visa submitted prior to the introduction of the no switching rule remain to be dealt with; and when he expects that all such applicants will have heard the result of their applications.

Charles Clarke: The no switching rule for leave to remain as a spouse came into force on 1 April 2003. This date precedes accurate data from the current casework database, and statistics are therefore not entirely reliable. Provisional management information suggests that about 70 spouse applications in General Group have been outstanding from before 1 April 2003. It is not known how many of these cases might be switching applications.

Workers' Registration Scheme

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the new accession states registered on the Worker Registration Scheme are resident in Birmingham.

Tony McNulty: The Accession Monitoring Report, published on a quarterly basis, provides detailed statistical data on Accession state nationals who have registered on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS).
	However, apart from London, the report does not contain data relating to individual towns or cities. For reference, the latest version of the report is available on the Home Office website via:http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/0/reports/accession_monitoring.html. The following figures have therefore been obtained from local management information using the WRS database.
	They have not been provided under National Statistics protocols and are therefore provisional and subject to change. The information covers the period one May 2004 to 30 September 2005, which corresponds with the period covered by the latest Accession Monitoring Report. The Birmingham postal area covers a large part of the West Midlands. Therefore the figures have been broken down into two parts (i) City of Birmingham covered by the area postcodes B1B5 inclusive; (ii) Birmingham area postcodes (codes starting with B) within the West Midlands (excluding those in Hereford and Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire). The number of accession state nationals who registered with the scheme and gave an address in these respective areas during the period one May 200430 September 2005 is as follows: (i) Birmingham (city)1,225 (ii) Birmingham (area)1,335 (excluding those in the Birmingham city area).
	This gives a total of 2,560 within the geographical area referred to. The figures show those applicants who have registered on the Scheme since one May 2004. The figures are not current; an individual who has registered to work and who leaves employment is not required to de-register, so some of those counted will have left the employment for which they have registered and some are likely to have left the UK. Thus the number currently residing in Birmingham or the West Midlands is unknown.

Young Offenders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population of each young offender institution was in each of the last eight years.

Charles Clarke: The information requested is provided in the following table. Information for prison establishments is as recorded on the Prison Service IT system.
	
		Populations of Young Offender and Juvenile Institutions at 30 June, 1998 to 2005
		
			 Young Offender Institution 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Ashfield(8)  359 177 292 291 266 310 310 
			 Aylesbury 300 250 349 355 351 346 360 425 
			 Brinsford(8) 296 7 270 291 277 273 250 283 
			 Brockhill(8)  68 12 16 26 16 3 8 
			 Bullwood Hall(8) 79 208 71 102 146 129 125 114 
			 Castington(8) 319  138 233 196 160 253 246 
			 Chelmsford(8)81 73 77 32 27 
			 Cookham Wood(8)  28 17 6 
			 Deerbolt 420 436 464 382 478 426 466 434 
			 Dover 316
			 Drake Hall(8) 17 265 310 186 41 32 29 15 
			 East Sutton Park(8) 6 12 15 30 5 3 4 2 
			 Eastwood Park(8)  1 5 5 35 28 25 7 
			 Elmley(8)   37 29 7 7 14 4 
			 Feltham(8) 478 421 333 378 479 474 373 360 
			 Forest Bank(8)   121 118 127 145   
			 Glen Parva(8) 478 509 481 538 557 574 514 563 
			 Guys Marsh(8) 126 135 133 134 135 131 138 69 
			 Hatfield(8) 152 113 115 116 111
			 Highdown(8) 4 8 2 8 
			 Hindley(8)486 516 527 476 403 
			 Hollesley Bay(8) 217 209 194 231 237 22 16 19 
			 Holloway(8)  38 40 14 33 14 27 52 
			 Huntercombe 359 297 339 315 346 265 346 340 
			 Lancaster Farms(8) 300 71 304 363 370 327 386 444 
			 Moorland Open(8)  113 59 61 
			 Moorland(8) 378 396 390 390 392 398 361 355 
			 New Hall(8) 76 110 94 109 96 84 87 77 
			 Northallerton  5 54 50 194 209 222 196 
			 Norwich(8)  77 109 127 119 119 119 127 
			 Onley(8) 602 582 488 591 504 543 222 170 
			 Parc(8) 114 15 1 1 16 225 197 182 
			 Portland(8) 568 559 523 509 450 433 462 392 
			 Reading(8) 17 14 19 19 20 16 15 17 
			 Rochester 169 164 304 391 
			 Stoke Heath(8) 591 607 511 531 652 611 648 624 
			 Styal(8) 42 68 77 64 78 27 14 30 
			 Swinfen Hall(8) 302 277 301 307 306 312 357 343 
			 Thorn Cross(8) 237 241 235 221 200 182 252 234 
			 Usk/Prescoed(8) 23 16 17 17 9 10 0  
			 Warren Hill(8)  190 215 211 
			 Werrington 159 96 100 132 130 113 138 134 
			 Wetherby(8) 305 349 4 345 333 329 286 342 
			 All young offenders (9) 11,550 11,257 11,231 11,054 11,610 11,042 10,788 10,800 
		
	
	(8) Establishments with more than one unit
	(9) Includes young offenders held within other prison establishments
	Establishments listed above in this table are :
	Male Young Offender Institutions, closed;
	Male YOIs, open;
	Female YOIs, closed;
	Female YOIs, open;
	Male Juvenile Institutions;
	Female Juvenile Institutions

Young Offenders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of children and young people convicted of an offence have been subject to (a) an antisocial behaviour order, (b) a parenting order and (c) a parenting contract in each of the past two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data are not collected in the form requested.

Young Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which part or agency of his Department is responsible for supervising young offenders under the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme; and how much the programme has cost in each year since it was introduced for each local authority area.

Fiona Mactaggart: Through individual schemes attached to youth offending teams, the Youth Justice Board is responsible for funding the supervision of young offenders under the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme. The cost of each scheme is only available from April 2003 onwards and is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 ISSP scheme 200304 
		
		
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 400,000 
			 Bath, North East Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset 350,000 
			 Bedfordshire, Luton 39,000 
			 Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton 600,000 
			 Birmingham 904,335 
			 Blackpool, Blackburn, Darwen, Lancashire 943,396 
			 Bournemouth and Poole, Dorset 89,700 
			 Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead 350,000 
			 Bradford 494,065 
			 Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow 800,000 
			 Brighton and Hove, East Sussex 84,500 
			 Bristol 411,473 
			 Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes 235,000 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 468,824 
			 Cambridge 359,487 
			 Camden, Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets 538,645 
			 Carmarthenshire, Mid Wales , Pembrokeshire 92,605 
			 Cheshire, Halton and Warrington 175,500 
			 City of Stoke on Trent 285,258 
			 Conwy/Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Ynys Mon 99,125 
			 Cornwall 65,000 
			 County Durham 300,000 
			 Coventry and Solihull 288,194 
			 Cumbria 130,000 
			 Darlington, Hartlepool, South Tees and Stockton-on-Tees 1,188,293 
			 Derby City, Derbyshire 206,700 
			 Devon, Plymouth, Torbay 153,140 
			 Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton 600,000 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 39,000 
			 Essex 178,750 
			 Flintshire 70,233 
			 Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland 150,000 
			 Gloucestershire 105,300 
			 Greater Manchester 2,098,080 
			 Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark 459,986 
			 Gwent Area 532,032 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea 398,470 
			 Hertfordshire 113,750 
			 Kent 506,469 
			 Kent and Medway 150,000 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 161,409 
			 Knowsley, Sefton and St Helen's 426,557 
			 Lambeth and Wandsworth 683,418 
			 Leeds 629,126 
			 Leicester and Leicestershire 297,700 
			 Lincolnshire 120,900 
			 Liverpool 585,791 
			 Luton 412,893 
			 Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside 493,553 
			 Newham 600,000 
			 Norfolk 100,750 
			 North East Wales 210,698 
			 North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire 101,400 
			 North of the Tyne 100,000 
			 Northamptonshire 133,250 
			 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 743,370 
			 Oxfordshire 286,890 
			 Peterborough 300,000 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Brigend, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot 1,204,668 
			 Rotherham Sheffield Doncaster Barnsley 900,000 
			 Solihull 55,000 
			 South East London 150,000 
			 South Gloucestershire 50,000 
			 South Gloucestershire/Bristol 25,000 
			 South Yorkshire 150,000 
			 Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock 126,750 
			 Staffordshire 579,032 
			 Suffolk 300,000 
			 Sunderland Gateshead South Tyneside 600,000 
			 Surrey 126,750 
			 Swindon, Wiltshire 68,510 
			 Thames 150,000 
			 Wakefield 312,157 
			 Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering 700,000 
			 Warwickshire 74,750 
			 Wessex 659,143 
			 West Sussex 88,725 
			 Wirral 337,630 
			 Worcestershire Herefordshire Shropshire Telford 397,000 
			 York and North Yorkshire 583,881 
			 Total 29,481,009

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Civil Nuclear Energy

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to bring forward proposals regarding the future of civil nuclear energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Energy Review is examining a wide range of options, including civil nuclear energy. After an assessment of the options, the Review will bring forward proposals this year on energy policy to help us deliver our medium and long term objectives.
	A consultation document was published on 23 January 2006, and is available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review.

Company Annual Returns

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors led Companies House to increase its charges for making an annual return; and if he will reduce this charge for not-for-profit companies.

Barry Gardiner: Companies House has not increased the annual document registration fee payable with the annual return filed electronically. In November 2004 Parliament approved the increase of the fee payable with the paper annual return to 30. There were two main reasons for the increase. First, Companies House is required to review its fees on a regular basis. The last full pricing review was completed in 2004 and confirmed that costs and prices were out of line in some areas and needed to be rebalanced. The fees are linked, as required by European Law and HM Treasury guidance, to the forecast cost of providing each service. Companies House is required to prevent the fees from one service subsidising the costs of another service. Secondly, the annual registration costs associated with filing in paper format has risen because handling paper is labour intensive compared to electronic filing. The fees Companies House charges to all companies, including not-for-profit companies, must reflect these differences in cost.

Employment Equality (Age) Regulations

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the final version of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The final draft of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 is scheduled to be published in the first quarter of this year. Subject to the regulations being approved by Parliament, I aim to make them before Easter.

Employment Equality (Age) Regulations

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he took of the time available to employers to consider the final form of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 when deciding on the timetable for implementation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We took into account the need for those with responsibilities under the legislation to have a reasonable time to complete their preparations. We have consulted widely and have been engaging with businesses and employers' groups for a number of years. The timetable envisages that they will have some six months with the final regulations.

Employment Rights

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes there are to an individual's employment rights if their employer moves from registering staff in the UK to registration (a) offshore within the EU, (b) offshore outside the EU and (c) in Guernsey; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 30 June 2005
	On the assumption that the workers in question are recruited in Great Britain and based in Great Britain for an unlimited period, the location and nationality of the employer is irrelevant to their enjoyment of the full range of applicable employment rights.
	I apologise for the delay in responding caused by a computer glitch.

Energy (Security of Supply)

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group's report was due to be published; on what date he expects the report to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI officials, in conjunction with Ofgem, are currently drafting the sixth JESS report which I expect to be published in the next few weeksabout six months after my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's first report to Parliament on security of gas and electricity supply in Great Britain was published.

Equal Opportunities Commission

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total budget was of the Equal Opportunities Commission in (a) 200405 and (b) 200506.

Meg Munn: The total budget granted to the Equal Opportunities Commission for the period 200405 was 8.970 million.
	The total budget granted to the Equal Opportunities Commission for the period 200506 is 9.755 million.

Equal Opportunities Commission

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding the Equal Opportunities Commission (a) received in 200506 and (b) will receive in 200607 in relation to the forthcoming duty on public bodies (i) to end unlawful discrimination and harassment and (ii) to promote equality between women and men.

Meg Munn: In 200506 the Equal Opportunities Commission received 500,000 in relation to the duty on public bodies to end unlawful discrimination and harassment and to promote equality between women and men. The Department of Trade and Industry is currently reviewing the budgetary allocations of all it's non departmental public bodies.

Equal Opportunities Commission

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the level of funding of (a) the Equal Opportunities Commission in relation to the forthcoming duty on public bodies to end unlawful discrimination and harassment and to promote equality between women and men, (b) the Commission for Racial Equality for its work with public bodies in relation to the duty on public bodies to promote race equality and (c) the Disability Rights Commission for its work with public bodies in relation to the duty to promote equality for disabled people.

Meg Munn: It is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's assessment that the following bodies were awarded the following funds to promote the Equality public duties mentioned
	(a) Equal Opportunities Commission500,000 in 200506 specifically for public duty.
	(b) Commission for Racial Equalityapprox 3 million (this covers a 3-year period 200102 to 200304 and was not ring fenced).
	(c) Disability Rights Commissionhas been allocated some 0.9 million in 200405 and 4.7 million in 200506 for work deriving from the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 including the Disability Equality Duty.

Export Licences (Defence)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many appeals against refusal of export licences by his Department for the defence procurement industry have been lodged in each of the last five years; and how many of them were (a) refused and (b) successful.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish information on all appeals against a decision to refuse an application, including the number that were refused and the number that were upheld, in their annual reports on strategic export controls, available from the Libraries of the House.

Export Licences (Defence)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for export licences for the defence procurement industry were made in 200405; and how many of them were dealt with within 20 days of receipt.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish information on the number of export licence applications they have processed and their performance against target in doing so, in its annual reports on strategic export controls, available from the Libraries of the House. The 20 working day target relates to processing Standard Individual Export Licence applications. The Government also publish quarterly licensing and performance information on the Export Control Organisation website,
	www.dti.gov.uk/export.control.

Housing (Aylesbury Vale)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on (a) the scale and (b) the cost of electricity requirements arising from planned expansion of housing in Aylesbury Vale.

Malcolm Wicks: None. This is a commercial matter.

Interconnector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress with negotiations for new interconnector with third countries to increase levels of energy supplies to the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: There are a number of projects planned which will increase the supply of gas into the country. The Langeled pipeline will enable us to increase imports from the Norwegian sector of the North Sea significantlypotentially meeting about the quarter of GB demandwhen it is commissioned next year. The BBL pipeline being built between The Netherlands and Bacton will reinforce our connection to the European gas market when it commissions next year, with the potential to supply about 10 per cent. of our daily average winter gas demand.
	In addition three new liquefied natural gas terminals have been authorisedone on the Isle of Grain in the Thames estuary and two in Milford Haven. Imports to the Isle of Grain have already begun, with the other two terminals expected to commission in 200708. Together these LNG projects could in due course meet up to 30 per cent. of UK daily average winter gas demand.

Inter-ministerial Meetings (Scottish Executive)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999; and what the (a) Scottish Executive department concerned, (b) subject and (c) date was in each case.

Alan Johnson: My predecessor met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 12 July and 6 December 2004. I met the Deputy First Minister on 17 May 2005.
	These meetings were to discuss departmental business as it affected Scotland.
	My ministerial colleagues met as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 Nigel Griffiths 3 November 2003 Met Jim Wallace to discuss small businesses and construction 
			 Nigel Griffiths 2 March 2004 Met Lewis MacDonald to discuss construction issues 
			 Stephen Timms 13 October 1999 Met Wendy Alexander to discuss ICT issues 
			  20 November 2000  
			  19 July 2001  
			  25 October 2001  
			
			 Stephen Timms 12 December 2001 Met Jack McConnell (subject not available) 
			 Mike O'Brien 6 December 2004 Met Jim Wallace to discuss Energy issues 
			 Malcolm Wicks 26 January 2005 Met Alan Wilson to discuss Energy issues 
			 Meg Munn 25 October 2005 Video-conference meeting with Malcolm Chisholm to discuss equality issues 
			 lan Pearson 12 October 2005 Met Jim Wallace as part of UK-wide ministerial forum attended by Devolved Administrations 
			 Lord Sainsbury 18 December 2002 Met Iain Gray to discuss implementation of 2002 Spending Review settlement and science strategy 
			 Lord Sainsbury 3 November 2003 Met Jim Wallace to discuss research funding

Maternity Rights

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Department has received in the last 12 months from (a) individuals and (b) groups regarding the situation of women who return to work immediately after giving birth and receive neither full-time salary nor full time maternity pay; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Department is not aware of any representations of the kind described in the question.

Ministerial Visits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many visits abroad Ministers in his Department have made in relation to policy on maternity and paternity pay and arrangements since 2001; and if he will list those visits.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No visits have been made by Ministers.

National Debtline

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many calls received by the National Debtline in each quarter of the last two years (a) received an engaged tone, (b) were answered by an adviser, (c) were abandoned by the caller and (d) were abandoned by the system;
	(2)  how many staff are employed to staff the National Debtline; and how many were so employed 12 months ago.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Calls received by National Debtline (NDL) over the past two years:
	
		
			  Calls answered by adviser (b) Calls abandoned by caller (c) Calls abandoned by system (timed out) (d) 
		
		
			 Q4/05 22,740 15,840 8,562 
			 Q3/05 15,800 27,434 20,950 
			 Q2/05 13,817 29,737 23,173 
			 Ql/05 12,393 28,951 26,308 
			 
			 Q4/04 9,351 21,760 17,387 
			 Q3/04 10,477 18,675 12,228 
			 Q2/04 10,245 21,223 10,208 
			 Ql/04 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	The number of calls that received an engaged tone is not recorded by NDL. Data before Ql/04 has been deleted from the computer system due to age.
	Because not all calls are answered first time, clients do redial i.e. NDL answered 5,763 calls out of 11,648 calls received last month (50 per cent.), but an analysis of unique caller phone numbers showed that NDL eventually helped 76 per cent. of those who tried to get through to the helpline.
	Staff employed by NDL, full-time equivalents:
	January 2006: 67 (of which 45.2 are advisers);
	January 2005: 48.9 (of which 32.1 are advisers).

Nuclear Power (Wales)

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Government have spent on decommissioning Welsh nuclear power plants in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) assumed responsibility for the decommissioning and clean up of the UK's civil nuclear legacy on I April 2005. There are two Magnox nuclear power stations in Wales for which the NDA have responsibility. They are Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, and Wylfa in Anglesey. Trawsfynydd ceased electricity generation in 1991 whilst Wylfa is still operational-in its draft Strategy the NDA have proposed that Wylfa ceases generation in 2010. The total decommissioning costs in respect of Trawsfynydd are given in the draft Strategy as 1.1 billion until final site clearance in 2096. The draft Strategy is available through the NDA website at: nda.gov.uk.

Nuclear Waste

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much and what proportion of spent nuclear fuel which has been imported into the UK is stored in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) England; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 24 January 2006
	I am advised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that with regard to overseas fuel stored in the UK, there is currently no inventory in Wales, less than one tonne in Scotland and around 760 tonnes in England, mostly stored at Sellafield.
	Since 1976, all contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel in the UK contain a clause stating that the materials, including waste, resulting from the reprocessing will be returned to the country of origin.

Nuclear Waste

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much spent nuclear fuel is stored in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) England; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 24 January 2006
	I am advised by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that of the spent nuclear fuel stored in the UK there are currently around 400 tonnes in Wales, around 225 tonnes in Scotland and around 5500 tonnes in England. These figures cover spent fuel stored following discharge from reactors and consists of fuel from Magnox and AGR reactors and overseas fuel received into the UK for storage pending reprocessing.
	Since 1976, all contracts for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel in the UK contain a clause stating that the materials, including waste, resulting from the reprocessing will be returned to the country of origin.

Nuclear Waste

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Government have spent on storing spent nuclear fuel in Wales produced from nuclear power plants located in the United Kingdom but not in Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I am advised that no spent fuel from the rest of the United Kingdom is stored in Wales.

Salt Cavern Gas Storage

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when he expects the first planned offshore salt cavern gas storage facilities to be operational;
	(2)  when assessment he has made of the likely impact of offshore salt cavern storage on gas supplies for winter in 200607.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government propose to provide a clear legal framework for activities associated with offshore gas storage in salt caverns. When, subject to Parliament, legislation is in place, companies will be able to use new technology to create salt caverns offshore and store gas over the next decade. It will not be possible for any projects to be proposed, consented, constructed and commissioned as early as winter 200607.

Salt Cavern Gas Storage

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the economic viability of the use of offshore salt caverns for gas storage.

Malcolm Wicks: This is a commercial matter, and I am aware of commercial interest in pursuing such projects.

THORP

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has asked the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the costings of the options of (a) re-opening the thermal oxide reprocessing plant (THORP) at Sellafield and (b) the final closure of reprocessing activities at THORP.

Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is currently undertaking detailed work to understand the full implications of the re-opening and final closure of THORP, which will include costings. The NDA will advise the DTI of its conclusions when this work is complete.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government has received from the EU on the review of the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive announced in December 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 January 2006
	We have not received any representations from the EU regarding the review announced in December 2005. Officials will be keeping the Commission informed of progress towards implementation.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mandatory targets the UK implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive will put in place regarding (a) the reduction and (b) the recycling of electronic and electrical waste.

Malcolm Wicks: The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive contains targets for reduction and recycling, which the UK is obliged to meet. The implementing UK regulations will be the means by which those targets are delivered; but no targets will be included in the text.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electronic and electrical waste came from domestic users in 200405; which sector produced the largest amount of electronic and electrical waste in 200405; what measures are in place to deal with this waste; and what further measures the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive will put in place.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no official data on the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the UK. The Industry Council for Electronic Recycling (ICER) published in 2005 estimates for the volume and number of items of WEEE arising in the UK for the year 2003. This suggested that there are some 93 million units representing around 1 million tonnes of WEEE from domestic users arising in the UK annually.
	The white goods sector is responsible for the largest proportion of this WEEE in terms of weight, but the ICT and consumer electronics sectors produce more units.
	WEEE is currently dealt with via existing UK waste legislation. A significant volume of WEEE by weight is currently recycled or re-used in the UK. The remaining WEEE is disposed of in a similar manner to other forms of domestic waste.
	The WEEE Directive requires the UK to promote the separate collection of WEEE from other forms of domestic waste to facilitate increased recycling and re-use of WEEE as a way of promoting sustainable development in Europe. The WEEE Directive also requires the pre- treatment of WEEE prior to recycling to prevent the dispersion of hazardous substances into the environment.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the incremental costs that will be borne by (a) local authorities and (b) the recycling industry as a result of the postponement of the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive announced by his Department on 15 December 2005.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have agreed to meet all new burdens that result from the delay to implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. The exact sum has yet to be determined, but it will be based on the costs that local authorities will incur.
	There should be no incremental costs to the recycling industry as a result of delayed implementation of the WEEE Directive.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Stay at Home Mothers

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the Government's policy is on mothers who wish to stay at home and bring up their children full-time; and what measures are in place to support those that do so.

Meg Munn: Parents are the best people to make decisions about the interests of their children. The Government's role is to support families and to ensure they have meaningful choices about how they live their lives. The core aim of the Work and Families Bill is about helping to give children the best start in life and how to enable all families to have genuine choices about how they balance their work and family caring responsibilities.
	The Government offer practical support for families through changes in the tax and benefit system which further help parents make decisions whether to engage in paid work or stay at home.
	As a result of the Government's reforms to the tax and benefit system since 1997, by October 2005, in real terms, families with children are, on average, 1,400 a year better off, while those in the poorest fifth are, on average, 3,200 per year better off.
	The 2005 budget improved this situation still further by announcing a commitment to increase the child element of child tax credit at least in line with average earnings up to and including 200708. It is currently worth up to 1,690 a year per child, benefiting 7 million children in 3.6 million families.

HEALTH

Cancer Treatments

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to monitor access to cancer treatments for patients in (a) the North East and (b) Gateshead East and Washington West; and what steps are taken to ensure access meets the targets the Department has set.

Liam Byrne: The Department, in the NHS Cancer Plan, has set out new goals to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment. There is a maximum two-month wait from urgent general practitioner referral for suspected cancer to start of treatment for all cancers by the end of 2005. For those patients who are routinely referred but subsequently diagnosed with cancer there is a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment by the end of 2005.
	The monitoring of access to cancer treatments in the North East and Gateshead East is a local matter. However, most recent figures for Northumberland Tyne and Wear strategic health authority show 99.4 per cent. of urgent referrals are seen within two weeks. At Gateshead Health National Health Service Foundation Trust 98.2 per cent. of urgent referrals are seen within two weeks.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee report on Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

Caroline Flint: The Government's response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CM 5124) was published in March 2001. A number of commitments made in response to the recommendations have been, or are being, implemented. This includes work to improve the regulation of herbal medicines and most recently proposals to prepare the ground for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners.

Drug-related Admissions

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug-related admissions to (a) hospitals and (b) accident and emergency departments there were in North Somerset in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004 and (iii) 2005.

Caroline Flint: The table shows counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary diagnosis code for selected drug cases for residents in North Somerset Primary Care Trust area.
	Figures for accident and emergency (AE) admissions have been omitted. Due to reasons of confidentiality figures between one and five have been withheld.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary diagnosis code for selected drug(10) cases in North Somerset Primary Care Trust, 200203 to 200405
		
			  AE admissions(11) Total admissions 
		
		
			 200203 (10) 28 
			 200304 6 20 
			 200405 (10) 30 
		
	
	(10) Low numbers
	Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed.
	(11) AE admissions defined as:
	Emergency via AE services, including the casualty department of the provider.
	Emergency, other means, including patients who arrive via AE department of another healthcare provider.
	Notes:
	1. Finished admission episodes
	A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. Ungrossed data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	3. Drug related cases defined as the following ICD-10 codes recorded in the primary diagnosis field:
	F11 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids.
	F12 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids.
	F13 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of sedatives or hypnotics.
	F14 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cocaine.
	F15 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of other stimulants, including caffeine.
	F16 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of hallucinogens.
	F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances.

Genetically Modified Foods

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated since 1997 into the effects of genetically modified foods on public health.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned research in a number of areas relevant to the safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) foods. This research is undertaken by independent research scientists and the work is peer reviewed before the reports of the research are made publicly available through the FSA's library. Details of the research are published in the annual reports of the FSA's research and surveys programmes and also available on FSA's website at: www.food.gov.uk/science/research/researchinfo/foodcomponentresearch/novelfoodresearch/g01programme/ and at: www.food.gov.uk/science/research/researchinfo/foodcomponentresearch/novelfoodresearch/g02programme/.
	GM foods are thoroughly assessed for safety on a case by case basis before they can be authorised in the European Union and this involves scrutiny of the scientific evidence concerning potential risks to human health. In addition, the FSA seeks advice from the advisory committee on novel food and processes on any new information that has implications for the safety of GM foods. Details of the advisory committee's evaluations of GM food safety research are available on its website and in its annual reports. The assessments of new GM food products are conducted at EU level by the European Food Safety Authority, which also publishes reports and opinions on the scientific data that it has evaluated.

Genito-urinary Medicine Clinics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve the collection of data in respect of sexual health interventions in (a) primary care and (b) genito-urinary medicine clinics.

Caroline Flint: There is a variety of sexual health related surveillance data currently produced and routinely distributed to service providers and commissioners. These include data on sexually transmitted infections and waiting times for genitor-urinary medicine (GUM) appointments, which are collected and published by the Health Protection Agency and the Office of National Statistics published data on conceptions.
	We recognise, however, that further improvements to the collection and availability of data are needed in order to meet the challenges of improving sexual health. To this end, the Department is currently funding a project to develop a common data set for sexual health with the aim of it being approved as a national health service information standard later this year. The standard is being assured by the Information Standards Board to ensure interoperability with other standards, fitness for purpose and implementability.
	The common data set will apply to all settings providing sexual health services, including primary care, and will provide, among other improvements, much better residence based information at local level. It is anticipated that the common data set will ultimately be collected through the systems being put in place by the national programme for information technology in the NHS (Connecting for Health) and that data will be made available for surveillance, performance monitoring and other purposes.
	A proposed common dataset is currently being piloted across GUM clinics, contraception services and general practitioners.

Influenza

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to Question 15379, on influenza, what mechanisms she has put in place to monitor international research into the causes of influenza.

Caroline Flint: The national expert panel on new and emerging infections, set up in 2003 on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer, advises the Department on both national and international threats from infection to public health and on research. The panel's terms of reference and other details are available on the Department's website at:
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/nationalexpertpanel/20031125summary.htm.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC), an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, has a long-established and central role in influenza research. The World Health Organisation's international influenza centre, part of the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research, works with a network of collaborating laboratories to detect and characterise new influenza viruses wherever in the world they emerge, and contributes to international research.

Processed Food

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of processed food in the United Kingdom which contains (a) added sugar, (b) Aspartame and (c) neither.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency does not hold information on all processed products on sale in the United Kingdom, and their ingredients. No estimate has been made of the proportion of these foods that contain added sugar, aspartame or neither of these substances.
	Legislation defines that aspartame is only permitted to be used in certain categories of foodstuffs, in particular energy-reduced or no-added-sugar varieties. Intake estimates have been conducted that assume aspartame is used at the maximum permitted level in all foods permitted to contain the sweetener. These have shown that consumers, including young children, are unlikely to exceed the acceptable daily intake for this sweetener.

Smoking

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the oral statement of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for public health in Standing Committee E of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 70, what exemptions must be made to a ban on smoking in workplaces and public places to satisfy compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's reply to the Joint Committee on Human Rights letter on the subject of her proposals for a smoking ban being incompatible with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Caroline Flint: The European Convention on Human Rights requires a fair balance to be struck between the rights of those who seek smoke-free areas and the rights of those who smoke. That balance may be different in different states and it may change from time to time. However, the Convention does not make requirements in relation to particular categories of premises.
	The Joint Committee on Human Rights' report, Legislation Scrutiny: Third Progress Report, published on 19 December 2005, includes a letter from the Chairman asking a number of questions about what will be needed for the Health Bill to satisfy compatibility requirements. The Secretary of State will be responding to that letter in due course and a copy of the reply will be placed in the Library. A copy of the report is available in the Library.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) NHS services, (b) social service departments and (c) children's services departments are legally obliged to check their employees against her Department's list of individuals who are considered unsuitable to work with children.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 7(1) of the Protection of Children Act requires an organisation which is concerned with the provision of accommodation, social services or health care services to children or the supervision of children and whose activities are regulated, to check both the PoCA List and List 99 in every instance where they propose to offer an individual a child care position.
	Therefore all NHS services, social service departments and children's services departments who employ staff in child care positions are legally obliged to check the PoCA List and List 99 before employing a person in such a position.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Buncefield Oil Depot

Peter Law: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made in respect of the explosion at the fuel depot at Buncefield of (a) the possibility of terrorist sabotage causing the conflagration, (b) the contribution to United Kingdom carbon emissions of the fires created by the explosion and (c) the cost of cleaning up the land contaminated at and around the site.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cause of the explosion at the fuel depot at Buncefield has yet to be established and is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
	It is estimated that, in round terms, the fires at Buncefield will have contributed between 0.025 per cent. and 0.05 per cent. of UK carbon dioxide emissions in 2005.
	The Environment Agency is working with, and advising, the oil companies' scientific advisers to establish a strategy to quantify the extent and scope of contamination both on and off site, including both land and water resources. Gathering such evidence should enable overall remediation costs to be quantified.

Cabinet Committees (Policy Clearance)

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which he has sought policy clearance for (a) legislation and (b) amendments to Government Bills from the Cabinet Committee on (i) Domestic Affairs and (ii) Economic Affairs during the current session.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Council Tax

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of collecting council tax was in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 23 January 2006
	The average cost of collecting council tax in England in each of the last five years is tabled as follows.
	
		Average cost of collecting council tax per chargeable dwelling
		
			   actual 
		
		
			 200001 14.65 
			 200102 14.55 
			 200203 14.92 
			 200304 15.87 
			 200405 15.92 
		
	
	Notes:
	The average is calculated by dividing the total net council tax collection costs in England by the total number of chargeable dwellings for council tax purposes.
	Total net council tax collection costs are defined as local authority gross expenditure net of any income relating to the collection of council tax. Gross expenditure on council tax collection includes the cost of sending out bills and pursuing late payers.
	The related income is mainly made up of recovered court costs.
	Source:
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Revenue Outturn (RO) returnsRO6 data.
	ODPM Council Tax Base (CTB1) returns.

Council Tax

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by Hammersmith and Fulham council he expects to be financed from council tax in (a) 200607 and (b) 200708.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not yet available. Local authorities as yet have not set council taxes or budgets for 200607 or 200708.

Council Tax

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council was financed from council tax in each financial year since 199697.

Phil Woolas: The percentage of revenue expenditure by Hammersmith and Fulham borough council that has been financed from council tax in each financial year since 199697 is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 199697 24.3 
			 199798 26.6 
			 199899 24.9 
			 19992000 23.8 
			 200001 23.9 
			 200102 22.8 
			 200203 23.2 
			 200304 22.1 
			 200405 22.9 
			 200506 22.9 
		
	
	The data are as reported by local authorities and are taken from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Revenue Summary (RS) returns for 199697 to 200405, and ODPM Revenue Account (RA) Budget returns for 200506.
	The definition of council expenditure used here is that expenditure funded from Aggregate External Finance (AEF), council tax and authorities' reserves.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changes in responsibilities and the method of reporting the information. In particular, the outturn data for 199697 to 200203 and the budget data for 200506 have been calculated on a non-FRS (Financial Reporting Standard) 17 basis while the outturn data for 200304 to 200405 have been calculated on an FRS 17 basis. Hence, figures for different years may not be directly comparable.

Councillors (Pensions/Income)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 19645W, on councillors (pensions/incomes), what estimate the Government have made of the cost resulting from the changes to rules relating to allowances and pensions.

Phil Woolas: The Government hold no information on the cost resulting from changes to rules relating to allowances and pensions. Decisions about the levels of allowances paid in any case are for the local authority concerned.

Departmental Computer Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many working hours have been lost in his Department due to the loss of computer services in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002. Since that date there have been no instances when the loss of computer services resulted in lost working hours.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506 in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Expenditure on buildings and insurance of buildings managed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its Agencies, all of which are situated in England, is as follows:
	
		ODPM
		
			  
			 Region 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Maintenance and  refurbishment 
			 London 2,902,212 3,461,057 1,947,698 6,472,895 
			 Eastern 6,741 7,152 29,481 27,300 
			 North West 0 0 0 0 
			 South West 6,588 30,990 17,806 91,281 
			 West Midlands 11,047 45,290 43,311 30,737 
			  
			 Insurance 
			 London 0 0 0 0 
			 Eastern 4,527 5,186 5,038 5,168 
			 North West 0 918 731 717 
			 South West 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 910 1,013 1,568 0

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by his Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. Salaries paid to civil servants within ODPM were as follows:
	
		
			  Salaries to civil servants 000 Departmental expenditure limit(outturn figures)  billion Salaries as percentage of departmental expenditure limit 
		
		
			 200203 170,304 42.95 0.4 
			 200304 191,692 49.68 0.4 
			 200405 184,069 52.56 0.4 
		
	
	Figures include costs for ODPM (Central), Government Offices for the Regions, the Planning Inspectorate, the Rent Service (for 200203 and 200304 only), Advisory bodies and Tribunals. The Rent Service transferred to the Department of Works and Pensions with effect from 1 April 2004.
	For the Departmental Expenditure Limit, the figures include both ODPM Main Programmes DEL and Local Government Programmes DEL.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff employed by his Department live in Castle Point.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had no staff living in Castle Point (as at 23 January 2006).

Local Authority Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy for all the income from council tenants' rents to be ring-fenced in the national housing revenue account.

Yvette Cooper: There are no plans to ring-fence rental income within the national housing revenue account.

Planning Appeals

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times the Planning Inspectorate has upheld on appeal an application for a residential development in (a) England, (b) the South East and (c) Waverley borough Council where over-development was recorded as an issue by the local authority in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer24 January 2006
	The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Stakeholder Perceptions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has spent on commissioning reports from MORI on his Department's Stakeholder Perceptions.

Jim Fitzpatrick: MORI were commissioned to undertake two Stakeholder perception Surveys for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2003 and 2005 at an approximate total cost of 135,000.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what data the Valuation Office Agency has provided to Ordnance Survey in the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency has recently supplied samples of the non-domestic Rating List and addresses drawn from the Valuation List, followed by compilations of similar data covering the whole of England and Wales.

Wind Turbine Projects

John Greenway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account is taken of the viability of wind turbine projects in planning decisions.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Statement 22 Renewable Energy makes it clear that the viability of a wind turbine project is an issue for the developer of the project. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should not make assumptions about the technical and commercial feasibility of renewable energy projects.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many same sex couples have adopted children in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not available. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 reformed adoption law so that married couples, civil partners, heterosexual couples and same sex couples may apply to adopt. The Act came fully into force on 30 December 2005.

Apprenticeships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the (a) apprenticeships and (b) advanced apprenticeships supported by each Learning and Skills Council in each year since 2002, broken down by sector; and how many people on each course were (i) of each sex and (ii) in each age group.

Phil Hope: We do not hold the data in the form requested. However, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) publishes full information on the number of starts on each apprenticeship framework by programme type, gender, age and LSC local area on the internet via:
	http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/apprenticeshipsdata/.
	The following tables provides information including apprentice data by area of learning, gender and age.
	This shows that, in England in 2004/05 for example, 176,334 female and 234,904 male apprentices were in learning, of which 207,295 were aged below 19 and 203,943 over 19.
	
		Table 1: Learners on WBL LSC funded provision by highest qualification level and age group
		
			  2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Below 19
			 Level 2 139,337 147,498 156,504 
			 Level 3 59,717 52,247 50,791 
			 
			 19 plus
			 Level 2 86,648 102,517 106,920 
			 Level 3 103,333 100,413 97,023 
			 
			 Total 389,035 402,675 411,238 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Learners on council-funded WBL provision by area of learning and gender
		
			  2002/03 2003/04 
			  Female Male Total Female Male Total 
		
		
			 LAD-Area of learning:   
			 Science and Mathematics 117 228 345 84 188 272 
			 Land based provision 3,168 4,957 8,125 3,401 5,219 8,620 
			 Construction 363 49,719 50,082 379 48,922 49,301 
			 Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing 2,128 77,692 79,820 2,482 88,612 91,094 
			 Business administration, Management and Professional 38,657 13,051 51,708 36,871 12,522 49,393 
			 Information and Communication Technology 1,879 10,626 12,505 1,797 9,624 11,421 
			 Retailing, Customer Service and Transportation 38,920 25,984 64,904 37,858 25,658 63,516 
			 Hospitality, Sports, Leisure and Travel 25,003 23,620 48,623 25,956 24,486 50,442 
			 Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy 27,785 1,883 29,668 29,561 2,393 31,954 
			 Health, Social Care and Public Services 37,697 3,740 41,437 40,827 4,154 44,981 
			 Visual and Performing Arts and Media 101 1,110 1,211 133 1,009 1,142 
			 Humanities 5  5 3  3 
			 English, Languages and Communication 6 15 21
			 Foundation programmes  9 9
			 Not known 139 432 571 294 240 534 
			 Total 175,968 213,067 389,035 179,647 223,028 402,675 
		
	
	
		
			  2004/05 
			  Female Male Total 
		
		
			 LAD-Area of learning:
			 Science and Mathematics 101 184 285 
			 Land based provision 3,682 5,355 9,037 
			 Construction 485 53,668 54,153 
			 Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing 2,590 93,266 95,856 
			 Business administration, Management and Professional 34,386 12,314 46,700 
			 Information and Communication Technology 1,682 8,380 10,062 
			 Retailing, Customer Service and Transportation 33,003 23,277 56,280 
			 Hospitality, Sports, Leisure and Travel 22,028 22,698 44,726 
			 Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy 31,749 2,814 34,563 
			 Health, Social Care and Public Services 42,202 4,534 46,736 
			 Visual and Performing Arts and Media 85 871 956 
			 Humanities 1  1 
			 English, Languages and Communication 12 41 53 
			 Foundation programmes
			 Not known 4,328 7,502 11,830 
			 Total 176,334 234,904 411,238 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Learners on council-funded WBL provision by age and gender
		
			  2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
			  Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male Total 
		
		
			 Below 19 86,797 112,257 199,054 86,515 113,230 199,745 87,275 120,020 207,295 
			 1924 88,871 100,491 189,362 91, 970 108,399 200,369 85,962 111,758 197,720 
			 2529 300 319 619 1,162 1,399 2,561 2,885 3,060 5,945 
			 3034   38 24 62 
			 3539   44 14 58 
			 4044   55 16 71 
			 4549   43 4 47 
			 5054   22 6 28 
			 5559   8 2 10 
			 60+   2  2 
			 Total 175,968 213,067 389,035 179,647 223,028 402,675 176,334 234,904 411,238

Bournemouth LEA

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) full-time teachers and (b) teaching assistants were employed in Bournemouth local education authority in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the number of full-time regular teachers and the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in Bournemouth local authority in each January since 1998. Teaching assistant data can only be provided on a FTE basis. The FTE of regular teachers has been provided for consistency.
	Bournemouth local authority was created on 1 April 1997. As figures are collected in January of each year figures are not available for 1997.
	
		Full-time regular teachers and full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants in Bournemouth local authority
		
			  Teachers(12) 
			  Full-time FTE Teaching assistants FTE(13) 
		
		
			 1998 950 1,040 130 
			 1999 970 1,070 170 
			 2000 980 1,090 210 
			 2001 1,000 1,110 240 
			 2002 1,040 1,140 380 
			 2003 1,010 1,130 380 
			 2004 1,010 1,130 410 
			 2005 1,020 1,130 400 
		
	
	(12) Source: DfES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618g.
	(13) Source: Annual School Census.

Bournemouth LEA

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual budget of (a) Bournemouth local education authority and (b) Middlesbrough local education authority was in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are set out in the following table. We do not hold comparable figures prior to 19992000.
	
		The Education (Budget Statements) (England) RegulationsTotal budgeted education revenue expenditure by Bournemouth and Middlesbrough local authorities since 19992000 Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 23 January 2006
		
			  Budgeted education revenue expenditure () 
			  Bournemouth Middlesbrough 
		
		
			 19992000 56,548,000 67,420,000 
			 200001 63,138,000 72,112,000 
			 200102 67,582,000 80,978,000 
			 200203 71,647,000 85,643,000 
			 200304 76,987,000 86,853,000 
			 200405 82,032,000 88,898,000 
			 200506 86,880,000 94,898,000 
		
	
	1. Budgeted education revenue expenditure is drawn from local authorities' Section 52 Budget Statements submitted to the DfES. This is calculated as the gross elements of any grants lines plus the net elements of the remainder of the education revenue budget.
	2. Cash figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
	The figures for Middlesbrough are affected by some pupils in the area attending academies rather than maintained schools.

Care Leavers

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national target she has set for increasing the proportion of care leavers aged 19 years who are in employment, education or training.

Maria Eagle: The DfES collects information from each local authority on the percentage of care leavers aged 19, who were looked after in their 17th year, who are participating in education, training or employment. However, currently there is no national target concerned with the proportion that is in employment, education and training.

Class Setting

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of lessons inspected by Ofsted were recorded as setted in science in years (a) seven, (b) eight, (c) nine, (d) 10, (e) 11 and (f) all years in (i) England and (ii) West Sussex local education authority in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 13 January 2006
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked what proportion of lessons inspected by Ofsted were recorded as setted in science in years (a) seven, (b) eight, (c) nine, (d) ten, (e) eleven and (f) all years in (i) England and (ii) West Sussex local education authority in each year since 1995.
	The tables attached show the percentage of lessons which were setted by ability, seen by inspectors during the academic years 1996/97 to 2002/03. Prior to 1996/97 inspectors were not required to record information about grouping and from 2002/03 records do not distinguish between setting and streaming (banded).
	The data at individual subject level and for the individual LEA, West Sussex, should be interpreted with caution as the small numbers of records are unlikely to be fully representative of the grouping arrangements as a whole in the LEA.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	
		Science
		
			  1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 
			 Year group Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons 
		
		
			 England
			 Year 7 2,629 20 1,476 27 2,160 27 1,692 28 
			 Year 8 2,655 46 1,522 49 2,090 52 1,625 54 
			 Year 9 2,796 65 1,667 68 2,459 69 1,926 69 
			 Year 10 3,059 77 2,069 76 2,948 76 2,268 77 
			 Year 11 4,664 69 2,058 76 3,111 76 2,336 77 
			 Total 711 15,803 58 8,792 62 12,768 62 9,847 63 
			  
			 West Sussex  
			 Year 7 22 0 4 100 32 38 22 32 
			 Year 8 32 34 3 100 26 42 15 80 
			 Year 9 27 74 4 0 9 22 22 73 
			 Year 10 21 86 3 0 25 32 25 76 
			 Year 11 57 86 4 0 39 33 18 61 
			 Total 711 159 62 18 39 131 35 102 64 
		
	
	
		
			  2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 
			 Year group Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons Total number of lessons Percentage of setted lessons 
		
		
			 West Sussex   
			 Year 7 1,325 32 1,206 34 1,121 40 
			 Year 8 1,311 64 1,104 62 1,013 62 
			 Year 9 1,723 76 1,467 77 1,345 74 
			 Year 10 1,857 85 1,539 85 1,359 80 
			 Year 11 1,945 82 1,672 86 1,528 83 
			 Total 711 8,161 71 6,988 71 6,366 70 
			
			 Year 7 9 44 6 33 16 44 
			 Year 8 21 71 8 25 17 41 
			 Year 9 38 84 12 75 20 70 
			 Year 10 36 92 13 77 23 83 
			 Year 11 31 90 8 63 20 85 
			 Total 711 135 83 47 60 96 67 
		
	
	Notes:
	Framework changes occurred in January 2000 and September 2003. Changes in the way groupings in lessons are recorded may mean that data are not directly comparable from one framework to another.
	From January 2000 to July 2003, the inspection arrangements included full and short inspections. The majority of lessons observed will have been in full inspections. The most effective schools had short inspections.

Class Sizes (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size is in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in West Lancashire.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(14): average size of classes taught by one teacher(15)as at January 2005West Lancashire parliamentary constituency
		
			  Average class size 
		
		
			 Key Stage 1(16) 23.5 
			 Key Stage 2 26.1 
			 Primary 24.6 
			 Secondary 21.9 
		
	
	(14) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(15) Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(16) Includes reception classes.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the items valued at over 100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by her Department in the past 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The following table details items valued at over 100 that have been reported as stolen from Department of Education and Skills buildings in the past 12 months to date.
	
		
			 Item Number 
		
		
			 Laptop computers 35 
			 Conference telephone 1

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by her Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The following table details how much was spent by the Department on refreshments from 1999 to date. It is not possible to provide information from 1997 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 1999/2000 408,026.82 
			 2000/01 535,188.21 
			 2001/02 464,715.26 
			 2002/03 596,326.13 
			 2003/04 631,962.89 
			 2004/05 538,172.89 
			 2005/06 to date 313,375.56

Disabled Parents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to local authorities regarding supporting disabled parents in getting their children to school.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 23 January 2006
	The Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities specifically in relation to supporting disabled parents with their responsibility to ensure the regular attendance of their children at school.
	We would expect, however, that where the attendance of individual pupils gives cause for concern, the local authority's education welfare service would work closely with the family to resolve any problems.

Disabled Parents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to provide a right to free school transport for pupils who are caring for disabled adults.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 January 2006
	Free home to school transport is a service that local authorities provide to parents of school pupils where they consider it 'necessary' to secure a child's attendance at school. Local authorities must consider transport necessary for all pupils of compulsory school age (including those with disabled parents), and who attend their nearest suitable school, provided that the school is beyond the statutory walking distance.
	From December 2006, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, places a duty on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people and to eliminate discrimination. This duty is anticipatory, meaning that public authorities will have to review all their policies, practices, procedures and services to make sure they do not discriminate against disabled people and ensure that all their services are planned with disabled people's needs fully considered in advance.
	In the Department's view, this means that local authorities will be under a duty to amend their home to school transport policy if, for example, that policy relied on disabled parents accompanying their children along a walking route for it to be considered safe, and where the parents' disability prevented them from doing so. In such circumstances, a reasonable adjustment would be for the local authority to provide free home to school transport. The Department will publish guidance to this effect in advance of the duty coming into force.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of the education maintenance allowance in encouraging 16 to 18-year-olds to stay in education.

Maria Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 16 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1014015W.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase education maintenance allowance payments in 2006.

Maria Eagle: There are currently no plans to increase the amount of education maintenance allowance payments.

Educational Attainment

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national target she has set for increasing the number of primary schools meeting key stage 2 targets.

Jacqui Smith: The Department's Spending Review 2004 Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets are set out in the 2005 Departmental Report (cm 6522), a copy of which is in the House Library. The current PSA target at key stage 2 is to raise standards in English and mathematics so that:
	By 2006, 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieve level 4 or above, with this level of performance sustained to 2008; and
	By 2008, the proportion of schools in which fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above is reduced by 40 per cent.
	Good progress has been maintained towards delivery of this target. A record 79 per cent. of pupils achieved level 4 or above in English and 75 per cent. achieved level 4 or above in mathematics last year. Compared to 1997, the proportion achieving level 4 or above has increased by 16 percentage points in English and by 13 percentage points in mathematics.
	Significant reductions have been made in the number of schools where fewer than 65 per cent. of pupils achieve level 4 or above. In 2003 (baseline), 2,849 schools in English and 3,570 schools in mathematics were achieving below the target. In 2005, these figures dropped to 1,871 schools in English and 2,800 schools in mathematics. Compared with 2003 this means an overall reduction of 34 per cent. (978 schools) in English and 21 per cent. (770 schools) in mathematics towards the floor target of 40 per cent. reduction by 2008.
	Subsequent PSA targets will be agreed as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Educational Attainment

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national target she has set for the percentage of pupils achieving five GCSE A*-C grades by 2009.

Jacqui Smith: The Department's public service agreement (PSA) targets are set out in the 2005 departmental report (Cm 6522), a copy of which is in the House Library.
	The current PSA targets at Key Stage 4 are: (a) by 2008, 60 per cent. of pupils achieve five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C; and (b) in all maintained secondary schools at least 25 per cent. of 16-year-olds achieve five or more A*-C grades by 2006 and 30 per cent. by 2008.
	Good progress has been made towards achievement of these targets. In 2005, 56.3 per cent. of 15-year-olds achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalenta 2.6 percentage point increase on 2004 results and an increase of 11.2 percentage points compared with 1997.Over 67,000 more pupils are now achieving at this level than did so in 1997.
	There has been a further significant drop in the number of schools below floor targets.
	2005 results show:
	112 schools are below the 25 per cent. floor target, down from 186 schools in 2004 and 616 in 1997;
	232 schools are below the 30 per cent. floor target, down from 343 schools in 2004, and down from 896 schools in 1997.
	Subsequent targets will be agreed as part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.

Smoking

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on smoking in publicly funded educational establishments.

Jacqui Smith: Educational establishments which are publicly funded are covered by the provisions of the Health Bill currently before Parliament. The Bill, when passed, will prohibit smoking in enclosed public places including early years education settings, Sure Start children's centres, schools, colleges of further education and institutions of higher education, with some exemptions for residential accommodation for students and staff. Young people living in residential schools homes who are over the legal minimum age at which smoking is permitted, currently 16, would have the same right to smoke as other young people of the same age in their own rooms.
	Currently, nurseries and pre-schools are required, under national standards, to have a no smoking policy. We already encourage schools to be smoke-free environments. All schools should aim to become healthy schools and should be smoke free or be working towards being smoke free by September 2007 to gain healthy school accreditation. The national minimum standards for residential special schools encourage smoke-free policies. Higher education institutions must comply with all smoking legislation for their premises: it is for individual institutions to decide their own smoking policies in line with current legislation.

Executive Agencies

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) targets, (b) advice and (c) guidance her Department has given to executive agencies that fall under the remit of her Department on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Education and Skills is not responsible for any executive agencies.

Language Tuition

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many comprehensive schools offered non-European languages as an option in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: This Department does not collect this information or hold it centrally.

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the music service of Staffordshire education authority.

Jacqui Smith: Music Services are not subject to statutory inspections but instead undertake regular self-reviews to ensure they are providing a high quality service to schools and young people. My Department does not hold copies of the results of these self reviews.
	Nationally, my Department conducts a three-yearly survey of Music Service provision, looking at issues of access, quality and breadth. The 2005 report was published in December and copies are available in the House of Commons Library. Data on individual music services are anonymised in the report, however, and for internal use only.

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department has paid to Staffordshire education authority for the provision of music services in each year since 1998.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold figures for music service allocations prior to 1999. Since 1999, every local authority has received a grant through the music standards fund (MSF). Since the MSF was established, Staffordshire music service has received the following funding:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 199900 826,000 
			 200001 826,000 
			 200102 940,000 
			 200203 1,054,000 
			 200304 1,064,000 
			 200405 1,054,000 
			 200506 1,064,000

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the pilots her Department established to trial new ways of teaching and learning music.

Jacqui Smith: My Department has established two sets of pilots in the last four years to trial new ways of teaching and learning in music. One set of pilots focused on instrumental and vocal learning at KS2 and one on teaching and learning at KS3.
	In 2004, twelve of the thirteen instrumental and vocal pilots were evaluated by Ofsted. 'Consistently high quality of work' was observed in seven of the programmes; in the other five, Ofsted reported 'good, sometimes very good features in all of them, but not consistently so'. In 2005, Ofsted reported that 'the best provision' observed in primary schools was from these programmes, with 67 percent. of lessons good or outstanding. This compared with 43 percent. of conventional KS2 sessions.
	The KS3 music pilots took place in 40 schools across five local authorities and came to an end in December 2005. My Department is currently considering evaluation data collected from the pupils, teachers and trainers involved in this pilot.

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress her Department has made towards achieving the target for every child to be given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument.

Jacqui Smith: Since 2002, the percentage of KS2 pupils learning a musical instrument has risen from 7 percent. to 13 percent. We have achieved this by:
	Piloting models of delivery in thirteen authorities;
	Sending an Ofsted evaluation and a DVD of exemplar materials based on the pilots to all schools and local authorities in England;
	Commissioning QCA guidance materials based on the pilots and sending them to all schools and local authorities in England;
	Funding a series of national and regional training events for teachers, local authorities and music services;
	providing local authority music services with an additional 3 million over the last three years to develop their own models of delivery.
	We expect to make significant further progress over the next two years by:
	Providing music services with a further 1.5 million for this work in 200607;
	Investing 1 million per annum in a national musical instrument fund;
	Investing 1 million per annum in a national strategy for workforce training and development;
	Allocating 26 million to primary and special schools to buy in the specialist support they need to deliver this programme in schools.

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional funding she plans to provide for the improvement of (a) teaching and (b) learning music in the next five years; and how much of this money will go to Staffordshire.

Jacqui Smith: In the next two years, my Department will be providing the following additional support for the improvement of teaching and learning in music:
	120 million for music service provision (Staffordshire: 2,108,000)
	1.5 million for music service provision at KS2 (Staffordshire: 20,000)
	26 million to primary schools for instrumental and vocal tuition at KS2 (Staffordshire: 422,094)
	2 million to music services for musical instruments (Staffordshire: figures not available)
	2 million to fund a national strategy of training and development for musicians and classroom teachers (Staffordshire: figures not available)
	2 million for Music Manifesto Pathfinders at the Halle, the Roundhouse and The Sage, Gateshead (Staffordshire: not applicable).
	Figures are yet to be finalised for additional Music Manifesto projects, including the Festival of Practice 2006, and the possible roll out of a KS3 music pilot.
	It is not possible to give any indication at this stage about funding for music post-2008.
	This will be considered as part of the wider Comprehensive Spending Review.

Music

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the potential effect of paying the money for improving the teaching and learning of music directly to individual schools on the music services provided by local education authorities.

Jacqui Smith: There has been no reduction in the amount of money paid to local authority music services for improving the teaching and learning of music; this will remain at just under 60 million per annum until at least 2008. In addition, all music services will receive an additional 10,000 in 200607 to support further instrumental and vocal tuition at Key Stage 2. Over the next two years, they will receive a share of 2 million for musical instruments and support for continuing professional development at a cost nationally of a further 2 million. I would expect these increases to have a significant positive impact on music services' ability to support teaching and learning at Key Stage 2.
	The further 26 million allocated to primary schools may be used to buy in specialist support from a range of providersI believe it is right to allow schools this degree of choice. Given music services' track record at KS2, and their positive relationship with schools (96 per cent. say they are satisfied with the service they receive), it is likely that a great deal of this specialist support will continue to be bought in from local music services.

Office Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) her Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in each English region owned in (1) 200304 and (2) 200405.

Maria Eagle: My Department does not collect the information requested from NDPBs and public bodies. The information given in the following table is for my core Department only.
	
		
			 Category 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Personal computers 7,216 6,692 
			 Laptops 1,949 1,548 
			 Servers 732 748 
			 Printers 2,266 2,142 
			 Scanners 278 288 
			 Photocopiers 0 0 
			 Fax machines 310 286

Physical Education (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average number of hours per week of physical education undertaken in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in West Lancashire was in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: Data from the annual PE, School Sport and Club Links survey are not collected in the format requested. The 2004/05 survey found that overall, 69 per cent. of 5 to 16-year-olds in partnership schools were spending at least two hours in a typical week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum. This figure is 64 per cent. for primary schools and 75 per cent. for secondary schools. The survey collects data from schools within school sport partnerships. By September 2006, all maintained schools will be within a partnership.
	The results from school sport partnerships in Lancashire established at the time of the survey are as follows:
	
		
			 Partnership name Percentage of pupils who participated in at least two hours of high quality PE and out of hours school sport in a typical week 
		
		
			 Tulketh 57 
			   
			 Brownedge St. Mary's 47 
			   
			 Fearns Community 53 
			   
			 Heysham 70 
			   
			 Our Lady's Lancashire 58 
			   
			 Worden 51 
			   
		
	
	The overall average for Lancashire was 56 per cent.

Literacy/Numeracy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of primary school pupils left primary school without attaining the target levels of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in each year since 199697, broken down by local education authority; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Standards of literacy and numeracy in our primary schools, as measured by the national curriculum tests, have never been higher. In 2005 79 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved the target level 4 of the national curriculum in English and 75 per cent. did so in mathematics. In 1997 over a third of 11-year-olds left primary school without attaining the target level 4. The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies introduced by the Government in 1998 and 1999 have contributed significantly to this dramatic rise in standards.
	The Government are committed to improving primary teaching further and we are implementing the findings from the 2005 Rose Review of Reading and renewing both the literacy and numeracy teaching strategies over the next year to support this.
	Our recent White PaperHigher Standards, Better Schools for Allset out our determination to ensure every child masters the basics of literacy and numeracy. There will be an extra investment of 565 million by 2007/08 to support personalisation in primary and secondary schools, focusing particularly on helping children who have fallen behind in English and mathematics. A further 60 million will be available in each of the next two years to provide effective one-to-one and small group tuition for the lowest attaining pupils.

Protection of Children Act

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals are on the Protection of Children Act list.

Ruth Kelly: There are currently 1,285 people on the Protection of Children Act List. This includes the names of individuals who were transferred from the Consultancy Service Index, which was maintained by the Department of Health prior to the introduction of the Protection of Children Act.

Pupil Exclusions

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupil exclusions there have been in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Westmorland and Lonsdale since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: number of permanent exclusions 1996/97 to 2003/04, Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary constituency
		
			  Primary Secondary 
			  Number Percentage(17) Number Percentage(17) 
		
		
			 1996/97 0 0.00 18 0.35 
			 1997/98 0 0.00 17 0.32 
			 1998/99 (18) (18) 9 0.17 
			 1999/2000 0 0.00 7 0.13 
			 2000/01(19) 0 0.00 (18) (18) 
			 2001/02(19) 0 0.00 5 0.09 
			 2002/03(19) (18) (18) 3 0.05 
			 2003/04(19) 0 0.00 4 0.07 
		
	
	(17) The number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils on the school roll in January of the same school year. Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(18) 1 or 2 exclusions, or a rate based on 1 or 2 exclusions.
	(19) There are known quality issues with exclusions data for these years. Figures shown here are as reported by schools but are unconfirmed and should be used with caution.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Pupil Exclusions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupil exclusions there have been in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Milton Keynes in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(20): number of permanent exclusions 1997/98 to 2003/04 Milton Keynes local authority area
		
			  Permanent exclusions 
			  Primary Secondary 
			  Number Percentage(21) Number Percentage(21) 
		
		
			 1997/98 4 0.02 39 0.34 
			 1998/99 12 0.05 14 0.12 
			 1999/2000 19 0.09 15 0.13 
			 2000/01(22) 9 0.04 10 0.08 
			 2001/02(22) 20 0.09 25 0.20 
			 2002/03(22) 17 0.08 26 0.21 
			 2003/04(22) 17 0.07 20 0.16 
		
	
	(20) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(21) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.
	(22) Figures are as confirmed by local authorities via the data checking exercise.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

School Buildings (Hereford)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been awarded to Herefordshire council to provide for new school buildings at each school in Hereford constituency since 1997; and what the sum awarded was in each case.

Jacqui Smith: Capital funding is allocated by the Department to local authorities and direct to schools. Funding allocated to each authority, together with other local resources that may be available, is prioritised to each school in accordance with local authorities' asset management plans, and the Department does not keep central records of this expenditure. Funding allocated by the Department to Herefordshire local authority and schools in its area since 199697 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Funding allocated to Herefordshire local authority 
		
		
			 199697 6.0 
			 199798 6.6 
			 199899 4.1 
			 19992000 5.4 
			 200001 8.5 
			 200102 5.9 
			 200203 8.4 
			 200304 27.6 
			 200405 8.4 
			 200506 8.7 
		
	
	The allocation of 27.6 million in 200304 includes a PFI amount of 19.5 million.

School Funding (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of whether the funding increase for schools in Hammersmith and Fulham will ensure that all the schools will be able to fulfil the planning, preparation and assessment initiative.

Jacqui Smith: All 55 schools in Hammersmith and Fulham have successfully implemented planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time for teachers, and all have been validated by the Local Authority/National Remodelling Team.
	In terms of funding, Hammersmith and Fulham will receive an increase of 6.9 per cent. per pupil in its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation for 200607, slightly above the national average. Within that figure there is an indicative allocation of 187,000 for implementing the final stage of PPA: the local authority should decide, after consultation with its Schools Forum how much additional funding it should allocate in 200607 for PPA.

School Playing Fields

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields in (a) Dacorum, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England have been sold off since May 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Since 1997 there has not been any applications involving the loss of a school playing field in Dacorum.
	Five applications involving the loss of an area of school playing field capable of forming at least a small sports pitch have been approved at schools in Hertfordshire since 1997.
	The number of approved applications to dispose of an area of school playing field capable of forming at least a small sports pitch at schools in England in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997/98 2 
			 1998/99 35 
			 1999/2000 29 
			 2000/01 28 
			 2001/02 29 
			 2002/03 19 
			 2003/04 13 
			 2004/05 11 
			 2005/06 1 
			 Total 167 
		
	
	Prior to October 1998, there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at local authority controlled schools. If a local authority wanted to sell a school playing field there was nothing to stop it and it could spend the proceeds as it wished.

Schools Admissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have received places at (a) community schools, (b) foundation schools, (c) voluntary aided schools, (d) voluntary controlled schools, (e) community special schools and (f) foundation special schools at the insistence of their local authority in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: We do not collect this information.
	Local authorities have certain powers to secure the admission of children to schools in their area. For community and voluntary controlled schools, they are the admission authority and so they decide who is admitted. For foundation and voluntary aided schools, they have the power to direct the admission of a child. For special schools (and for the admission of children with statements of special educational need to mainstream schools), they have the power to 'name' the school in the child's statement.

School Staff

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) classroom assistants and (b) teachers were employed in (i) the constituency of Ruislip-Northwood and (ii) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The following tables provide the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and teachers employed in Ruislip-Norwood constituency and each local authority in London for each year from 1997.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and teachers in maintained sector schools(23) in Ruislip-Norwood constituency
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Teaching assistants 120 140 140 150 170 180 210 210 260 
			 Teachers 620 630 630 650 650 640 650 680 700 
		
	
	(23) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants in maintained sector schools(24) in local authorities in London
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 10 
			 Camden 200 240 250 300 360 440 470 550 580 
			 Greenwich 360 400 430 510 650 650 730 750 820 
			 Hackney 210 250 290 380 420 490 530 610 680 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 190 200 210 250 240 260 300 360 380 
			 Islington 250 250 270 350 360 350 480 520 560 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 130 140 140 170 210 220 260 270 300 
			 Lambeth 300 350 390 500 560 580 640 720 770 
			 Lewisham 280 290 320 410 570 470 560 620 670 
			 Southwark 350 420 430 650 810 750 710 900 1,030 
			 Tower Hamlets 370 400 450 510 800 970 950 1,070 1,150 
			 Wandsworth 330 370 370 460 470 380 530 590 730 
			 Westminster 150 170 160 190 190 310 280 330 420 
			 Barking and Dagenham 300 290 310 320 400 500 510 560 540 
			 Barnet 290 340 400 480 550 740 720 850 980 
			 Bexley 200 230 280 310 380 320 560 550 600 
			 Brent 260 300 360 390 440 450 470 560 640 
			 Bromley 220 240 250 290 370 440 520 540 560 
			 Croydon 400 410 510 530 660 630 870 950 1,010 
			 Ealing 340 360 370 400 510 450 530 630 690 
			 Enfield 250 290 290 500 590 810 880 970 1,050 
			 Haringey 350 360 380 420 490 650 680 810 900 
			 Harrow 270 270 290 300 300 330 430 480 540 
			 Havering 170 170 200 260 300 310 520 590 680 
			 Hillingdon 330 370 410 450 540 560 640 670 790 
			 Hounslow 280 280 290 330 380 400 400 550 580 
			 Kingston upon Thames 130 130 150 170 220 220 250 310 360 
			 Merton 190 200 220 240 290 250 300 370 530 
			 Newham 280 280 390 500 960 720 1,070 1,190 1,300 
			 Redbridge 200 230 270 370 450 580 620 730 820 
			 Richmond upon Thames 100 110 110 130 160 210 220 250 330 
			 Sutton 160 170 210 230 260 340 330 370 440 
			 Waltham Forest 380 400 410 470 490 610 640 670 780 
			   
			 London 8,200 8,900 9,800 11,800 14,400 15,400 17,600 19,900 22,200 
		
	
	(24) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in maintained sector schools in local authorities in London
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 City of London 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 
			 Camden 1,500 1,480 1,440 1,340 1,430 1,570 1,450 1,420 1,480 
			 Greenwich 2,070 2,010 2,030 2,040 2,030 2,080 2,140 2,190 2,260 
			 Hackney 1,450 1,490 1,520 1,510 1,480 1,470 1,600 1,550 1,630 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 930 920 930 1,000 1,000 1,010 1,060 1,120 1,140 
			 Islington 1,420 1,410 1,330 1,350 1,300 1,460 1,380 1,440 1,440 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 680 670 680 650 660 670 720 690 690 
			 Lambeth 1,710 1,700 1,660 1,620 1,580 1,670 1,620 1,670 1,770 
			 Lewisham 1,870 1,870 1,810 1,890 1,980 2,070 2,040 2,010 1,990 
			 Southwark 1,750 1,800 1,850 1,840 1,960 2,060 2,090 2,030 2,030 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,270 2,170 2,310 2,250 2,180 2,220 2,310 2,280 2,310 
			 Wandsworth 1,690 1,680 1,700 1,680 1,730 1,770 1,750 1,780 1,840 
			 Westminster 1,140 1,160 1,160 1,190 1,250 1,300 1,320 1,290 1,340 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,450 1,420 1,450 1,470 1,480 1,510 1,570 1,680 1,650 
			 Barnet 2,770 2,730 2,720 2,710 2,740 2,820 2,850 2,800 2,790 
			 Bexley 1,860 1,870 1,940 1,920 2,030 2,160 2,090 2,110 2,050 
			 Brent 2,160 2,190 2,160 2,100 2,110 2,160 2,380 2,350 2,490 
			 Bromley 2,270 2,330 2,340 2,340 2,540 2,640 2,590 2,620 2,690 
			 Croydon 2,620 2,640 2,590 2,880 2,820 2,860 2,880 2,890 3,000 
			 Ealing 2,230 2,220 2,250 2,240 2,220 2,320 2,310 2,300 2,330 
			 Enfield 2,550 2,610 2,650 2,740 2,670 2,670 2,820 2,880 2,950 
			 Haringey 1,870 1,830 1,860 1,850 1,850 1,890 1,910 1,910 1,970 
			 Harrow 1,580 1,500 1,490 1,380 1,490 1,500 1,550 1,560 1,590 
			 Havering 1,870 1,870 1,900 1,890 1,950 2,040 2,060 2,090 2,050 
			 Hillingdon 2,000 2,030 2,030 2,130 2,180 2,230 2,230 2,350 2,400 
			 Hounslow 2,000 1,940 1,980 1,950 2,020 2,010 2,010 2,120 2,160 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,060 1,050 1,040 1,060 1,070 1,070 1,170 1,150 1,190 
			 Merton 1,210 1,170 1,190 1,150 1,210 1,210 1,240 1,180 1,260 
			 Newham 2,190 2,200 2,290 2,350 2,420 2,520 2,570 2,790 2,820 
			 Redbridge 2,100 2,130 2,180 2,200 2,370 2,380 2,470 2,510 2,470 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,070 1,070 1,060 1,030 1,040 1,090 1,100 1,050 1,060 
			 Sutton 1,390 1,420 1,450 1,480 1,530 1,590 1,710 1,700 1,750 
			 Waltham Forest 2,010 2,080 2,090 2,060 1,940 2,020 1,940 2,080 2,120 
			   
			 London 56,800 56,700 57,100 57,300 58,300 60,100 60,900 61,600 62,700 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are for the maintained sector. Teachers in academies (including those that were previously maintained schools) are not included.
	Source:
	Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618g.

School Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received from the General Teaching Council Wales about ensuring that foreign nationals working as teachers have undergone appropriate background checks.

Ruth Kelly: I have not received representations from the General Teaching Council for Wales about ensuring that foreign nationals working as teachers have undergone background checks.

School Staff

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance the Department has issued to supply teacher agencies on (a) required and (b) recommended background checks on persons applying for work as supply teachers in the last two years.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 19 January 2006
	Updated advice about checks on teachers, including supply teachers, was published on my Department's Teachernet website in September 2004. In addition my Department's guidance entitled Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings published in June 2005 was addressed to employment agencies and businesses that provide staff to schools as well as Head Teachers, Governing Bodies of schools, Local Education authorities, proprietors of independent schools, and Further Education institutions. That guidance included advice about the information that should be obtained from applicants and their referees and about interviewing candidates, as well as guidance on CRB, List 99 and other pre-appointment checks.
	In the future we will require mandatory CRB checks on anyone selected for appointment who is or has been resident in the UK. For those who have never lived in this country, we already advise employers to take extra care in checks on overseas candidates and to seek information about the person's criminal history from their country of origin wherever possible. The CRB provides advice to employers about countries from which it is possible to obtain such information and how to obtain it.

Sex and Relationships Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what training staff at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have to undertake in order to teach sex and relationships education;
	(2)  what requirements there are in the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory element of the sex and relationships education syllabus on issues of sexuality;
	(3)  what her latest estimate is of the proportion of parents who withdraw their child from the non-statutory elements of sex and relationships education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England;
	(4)  how much authority a school has to determine its own sex and relationships education policy.

Jacqui Smith: All teachers of sex and relationship education are encouraged to undertake the Government funded teachers' certificate in personal social and health education (PSHE). The certificate supports standards in the delivery of PSHE teaching including sex and relationship education and is available to both primary and secondary school teachers. Almost 5,000 teachers have undertaken the certificate since 2002. A PSHE certificate programme is also available to school and community nurses who support sex education in schools. Over 600 nurses have undertaken the certificate.
	The statutory requirements for sex education are outlined in national curriculum science. In addition, secondary schools must teach about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Other discretionary elements of sex and relationship education are included in the non-statutory PSHE framework. Schools are able to develop their own sex education programmes beyond the statutory minimum taking into account the views of parents and the needs of pupils. Schools are free to determine their own sex education policy taking account of the requirements of the national curriculum and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
	We do not collect data centrally on the numbers of parents withdrawing pupils from the non-statutory elements of sex education. Ofsted (Sex and Relationships, 2002) estimates 0.04 per cent. of parents exercise this right.

Sex Offenders Register

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people who (a) are working for and (b) have worked for her Department in Coventry in the last 10 years (i) are on and (ii) have been on the Sex Offenders Register.

Ruth Kelly: My statement and the accompanying report explain the work under way to establish how many people on the list of registered sex offenders are currently employed in schools in England and Wales.
	It is not the Government's policy to reveal publicly information that may lead to the identification and whereabouts of any individual on the Sex Offenders Register. Identifying individuals in this way does not enhance child protection.

Special Measures

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools were under special measures in 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the number of schools in special measures at the end of each month during 2005.
	
		
			  Number of schools in special measures 
		
		
			 2005  
			 January 303 
			 February 297 
			 March 288 
			 April 281 
			 May 262 
			 June 248 
			 July 248 
			 August 242 
			 September 238 
			 October 247 
			 November 222 
			 December 224

Teachers' Pensions

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will assess the cost-effectiveness of unifying teachers' pension benefits for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Jacqui Smith: There are no plans to assess the cost-effectiveness of unifying teachers' pension benefits for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In practice there is a great deal of commonality across the UK pension schemes for teachers but, as part of the Devolution arrangements, it is important that Ministers in each country's Education Department have the freedom to adapt teachers' remuneration packages, of which pensions form a part, to meet differing recruitment and retention needs.

Truancy

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many pupils were recorded as having at least one incidence of truancy in 2005;
	(2)  how many pupils were recorded as having at least one incidence of truancy in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on unauthorised absence 2005 is shown in the table:
	
		Unauthorised absence(25)
		
			  Number of day pupils of compulsory school age Number of pupils absent(26) 
		
		
			 Primary 3,565,048 583,859 
			 Secondary 3,037,013 774,347 
		
	
	(25) Unauthorised absence includes other forms of absence such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy. Truancy forms only one part of the unauthorised absence figures.
	2 Number of pupils that missed at least one session due to unauthorised absence
	Information on unauthorised absence in England 2004/05 can be found in table 6 of SFR 56/2005, Pupil Absence in Schools in England 2004/05 (Revised). This can be found at the following website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000626/index.shtml.

University Degrees

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost is of educating a university student through a degree course in the 30 most popular subjects.

Bill Rammell: DfES provides funding for HE institutions through annual grants to the Higher Education funding council (HEFCE). In allocating grant to institutions, HEFCE reflect the fact that different levels of resource per student are required for different subject groups. The table shows the unit of resource per full-time equivalent student per year. Figures relate to grant for teaching plus assumed tuition fee income only.
	
		
			  Subject group Assumed unit of resource per FTE student per year (200506) () 
		
		
			 The clinical stages of medicine and dentistry and veterinary science 14,432 
			 Laboratory based subjects (science, pre-clinical stages of medicine and dentistry, engineering and technology) 6,134 
			 Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element 4,690 
			 All other subjects 3,608

William Gibson

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement about the future employment of William Gibson.

Ruth Kelly: My statement to the House on 18 January made it clear that it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of child benefit allowance in the Crosby constituency; and what percentage they constitute of the total population of the constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	8,300 families in the Crosby constituency were receiving child benefit at August 2004 (for further details, see
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/cb_geog_aug04_aug05.pdf).
	This represents 15 percent. of the 56,374 electors in the Crosby constituency at 1 December 2004 (for further details, see
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D8887.xls)

Child Tax Credit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the (a) family element and (b) child element of child tax credit has increased in each year since they were introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the rates for the family element and child element of the Child Tax Credit in the years since it was introduced.
	
		 per year
		
			  200304 rates Change 200405 rates Change 200506 rates 
		
		
			 Child Tax Credit  
			 Family element 545 (+0) 545 (+0) 545 
			 Child element 1,445 (+180) 1,625 (+65) 1,690 
		
	
	Rates and thresholds for tax credits for 200506 and 200607 can be found on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrcgov.uk/rates

Child Trust Funds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost of the Child Trust Fund scheme in the next five years, including administration costs;
	(2)  what the cost of the Child Trust Fund scheme has been, including administration costs, in each year since the scheme was introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) on 22 March 2005, Official Report, column 701W.
	Other Child Trust Fund costs including administration are set out in the table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200405 52 
			 200506 37 
			 200607 25 
			 200708 15 
			 200809 15 
			 200910 15

Child Trust Funds

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of additional payments made into child trust funds in 200405.

John Healey: No additional payments were made into child trust fund accounts in the financial year 200405. The child trust fund became fully operational on 6 April 2005.

Conference Attendance (Costs)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff (a) from the Valuation Office Agency, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) his Department attended (i) the International Property Tax Institute International Conference in Prague in August 2005, (ii) the Southern African Tax Institute Workshop on the Valuation and Rating of Public Service Infrastructure in June 2005 in Pretoria, South Africa and (iii) the Eighth International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation in Alicante, Spain in February 2005; and what the total estimated cost to the public purse was of attendance at each of the events.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is as follows: 
	
		
			  Number of staff attending 
			 Event VOA HMRC HMT Cost () 
		
		
			 IPTI Conference Prague August 2005 1 0 0 600 
			 SATI Conference Pretoria June 2005 1 0 0 Nil 
			 IRRV Conference Alicante February 2005 3 0 0 950

Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the correspondence dated 29 November 2005 about Mrs Pauline Duff, a constituent of the hon. Member for Edinburgh West.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs have replied to the hon. Member.

Council Tax (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Castle Point residents received council tax benefit in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is in the table.
	
		Council tax benefit recipients in Castle Point boroughcouncil area.
		
			  
		
		
			 May 2001 5,100 
			 May 2002 5,100 
			 May 2003 5,200 
			 May 2004 5,400 
			 May 2005 5,900 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases.
	Source:
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system quarterly 100 percent. caseload stock-counts taken between May 2001 and May 2005.

Death Statistics

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average death rates were, allowing for age and sex standardisation, from (a) all causes, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) stroke and (d) cancer in each ward in (i) Crosby constituency and (ii) the city of Liverpool in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the reasonability of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average death rates were allowing for age and sex standardisation from (a) all causes, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) stroke and (d) cancer, for each ward in (i) Crosby constituency and (ii) the City of Liverpool in the last year for which figures are available.
	Due to small numbers of deaths in many wards, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not produce mortality rates for specific causes at the geographic level requested. Numbers of deaths in wards in England and Wales for selected causes, including coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer, are available for 2004, as part of the Vital Statistics (VS) series of outputs.
	Standardised Mortality Ratios for all causes of death for wards in England and Wales, based on deaths in the period 19992003, will be published by ONS in Spring 2006.
	The North West Public Health Observatory publication Where Wealth means Heath: Illustrating Inequality in the North West1 includes a map of Standardised Mortality Ratios for Lower-layer Super Output Areas in the North West. This publication is available on the North West Public Health Observatory website at: http://www.nwpho.org.uk
	Mortality rates for all causes, cancer and circulatory diseases are also available to download from this website for Middle-layer Super output Areas in the North West.
	1 Wood J, Hennell T. Jones A, Hooper J. Tocque K, Bellis M. Where Wealth means Health: Illustrating Inequality in the North West. Liverpool, 2006.

EU Budget (UK Contributions)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology was used to calculate the (a) Treasury estimate of the UK net contribution to the EU budget and (b) the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the net contribution to EU institutions; what items are included in each; and if he will recalculate the UK net contributions for each year from 200607 to 201213 using the ONS methodology and taking account of the recent budget changes.

John Healey: Figures published by the Treasury for the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EC Budget consist of the United Kingdom's gross contribution less the UK abatement and less public sector receipts. An explanation of the reasons for any differences between this and the Office for National Statistics' presentation of UK official transactions with Institutions of the EU (Table 9.9 (page 151) of the 2005 Pink Book is given on page 183 of the Pink Book. The Office for National Statistics figures are published on a calendar year basis and are historic. Financial year forecasts are not produced on the basis of the Office for National Statistics presentation. Revised forecasts of UK net contributions to the EC Budget, on the usual HM Treasury method, will be included in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

External Consultants

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies and other services placed with (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst  Young, (iii) KPMG, (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers and (v) all other consultants in 200405 by his Department and its agencies.

John Healey: The information in respect of contracts placed with the four named accountancy firms in 200405 is set out in the following table Equivalent information in relation to all other consultants could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 Core Treasury  
			 Deloitte and Touche  
			 Various secondments 220 
			   
			 Ernst  Young  
			 Consultancy on business continuity management planning 14 
			 Consultancy on government banking arrangements 12 
			 Internal audit services (26)70 
			 Subtotal Ernst  Young 96 
			   
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers  
			 Services as joint receivers and liquidators of Barlow Clowes 46 
			 Various secondments 253 
			 Subtotal PricewaterhouseCoopers 299 
			   
			 KPMG  
			 Consultancy on risk management (27)78 
			 Consulting on government banking arrangements 68 
			 Various secondments 98 
			 Subtotal KPMG 244 
			   
			 Debt Management Office  
			 Deloitte and Touche  
			 Consultancy on the Debt Management Account annual report and accounts 4 
			   
			 Ernst  Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers 0 
			   
			 Office of Government Commerce  
			 Deloitte and Touche  
			 Financial advice on key suppliers 95 
			 Consultancy on e-commerce 22 
			 Subtotal Deloitte and Touche 117 
			   
			 KPMG  
			 Consultancy on Human Resource issues 48 
			 Consultancy on model charging mechanisms 33 
			 Consultancy on productive time workstream 284 
			 Various secondments 10 
			 Subtotal KPMG 375 
			   
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers  
			 Consultancy support to Kelly Programme 57 
			 Various secondments 150 
			 Subtotal PricewaterhouseCoopers 207 
			   
			 Ernst  Young 0 
			   
			 OGCbuying.solutions  
			 Deloitte and Touche  
			 Cash flow consultancy 36 
			 Due diligence consultancy 12 
			 Subtotal Deloitte and Touche 48 
			   
			 KPMG  
			 Internal audit 63 
			 Supplier audit 14 
			 Subtotal KPMG 77 
			   
			 Ernst  Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers 0 
		
	
	(26) The contract with Ernst  Young for support to the in house internal audit team does not specify a total value, which will depend on the nature of the assignments, to be agreed by the Audit Committee each year, and the extent of the extra resources needed by the in house team. The value given is the total cost of Ernst  Young's internal audit services in 200405.
	(27) This contract was entered jointly with the DTI Shareholder Executive and ECGD. HM Treasury's share is 26,000.

Franked Investment Income

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take into account group litigation orders in the European Court of Justice on franked investment income tax rules in his next budget report.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are confident that the current Franked Investment Income (FII) legislation is fully conformant with both its domestic and international legal obligations.

Fuel Duty/RPI

David Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual percentage change in (a) fuel duty and(b) the retail price index was in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: Historical fuel duty rates can be found in Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin published by HM Revenue and Customs and available on UK Trade Info website: www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=statindex. Historical retail prices index can be found in Pocket Data Bank published by HM Treasury and available on HMT website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_dat a_and_tools/data_index.cfm.

Incomes/Savings

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the change in the differential in the (a) income and (b) savings of the rich and poor since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the change in the differential in the income and savings of the rich and poor since 1997. (44785)
	Estimates of differential income are based on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) analyses 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. The latest analysis for 200304 was published on the National Statistics website on 7th July 2005 edition of 'Economic Trends'. The analysis includes measures of income inequality for households in the United Kingdom based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. This is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK. The analysis for 200405 is due to be published on the National Statistics website in April 2006.
	Disposable household income is a commonly used indicator of living standards. Table 26 in Appendix 1 shows the percentage share of total disposable income for each quintile group. The quintile groups are based on a ranking of households by disposable income, with the bottom quintile containing the bottom fifth of households, the 2nd quintile containing those households between the 20th and 40th percentile and so on. Figures are available from 1981 to 200304. In 199798 the bottom quintile received 8% of total disposable income and the top quintile received 42%. In 200304 the bottom quintile still received 8% of total disposable income and the top quintile 42%.
	Comparable figures for household savings are not available. ONS is currently developing the Household Assets Survey to improve the availability of information on savings and wealth.

Insurance Companies (Additional Fees)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the tax liability of additional fees charged by insurance companies;
	(2)  what fees charged by insurance companies are liable to tax; and how much revenue was raised by taxes on these charges since 1997.

John Healey: Insurance companies do not generally charge fees. They charge premiums, on which insurance premium tax (IPT) may be due either at the standard rate of 5 per cent. or the higher rate of 17.5 per cent., depending on the type of insurance. IPT receipts since 1997 are published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and can be found at:
	www.uktradeinfo.com.
	Any other services supplied by insurance companies which are not exempt from VAT under Group 2 Schedule 9 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 will be liable to VAT at the standard rate of 17.5 per cent. HMRC does not collect data on VAT for individual goods and services.

Maternity Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were to women resident in West Lancashire at (a) individual maternity hospitals, (b) midwife-led units, (c) home and (d) other locations in each year since 2000.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 25 January 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request for the number of births to women resident in West Lancashire at (a) individual maternity hospitals, (b) midwife-led units, (c) home and (d) other locations in each year since 2000. (45126)
	The table below gives place of occurrence for live births or stillbirths occurring in England and Wales to women usually resident in the West Lancashire Local Authority area at the time of the birth. Information is not available centrally on which institutions are midwife-led units, so figures are presented for categories (a) and (b) combined, (c) and (d).
	
		Live births and stillbirths by place of occurrence for women resident in West Lancashire local authority area, 2000 to 2004
		
			   Year of occurrence 
			  Place of occurrence 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) and (b) Maternity hospital/unit  
			  District General Hospital, Ormskirk 783 830 822 949 1,029 
			  Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital, Southport 104 112 105 42 11 
			  Billinge Hospital, Wigan 92 91 59 74 28 
			  Liverpool Womens Hospital 42 35 36 39 61 
			  Sharoe Green Hospital, Fulwood, Preston 9 21 25 12 9 
			  University Hospital Aintree 21 12 8 8 (28) 
			  Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan (28) (28) (28) (28) 20 
			  Other Hospitals 6 7 4 10 16 
			
			 (c) At Home 16 13 9 15 10 
			
			 (d) Elsewhere(29) (29) (29) (29) (29) (29) 
			
			  Total 1,074 1,123 1,071 1,150 1,184 
		
	
	(28) Hospital not providing maternity services during the year.
	(29) Annual counts of less than five. There were seven births, all live, during the period 200004.

Stakeholder Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise stakeholder pension tax relief levels in 2006.

Des Browne: From 6 April 2006 stakeholder pensions will, like all other registered pension schemes, enjoy the tax reliefs and advantages set out in Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004. This new regime, which has been widely welcomed, will help introduce greater choice, flexibility, transparency, clarity and cost-efficiency.
	The Chancellor keeps all tax matters under review as part of the normal Budget process.

Private/Public Sector Employment (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) private sector jobs in (i) manufacturing and (ii) the service sector and (b) public sector jobs there were in Coventry South in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 25 January 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about private and public sector employment. I am replying her absence. (44632)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for the United Kingdom of public sector employment from a quarterly survey of public sector organisations. However, estimates at local area level are not available.
	Information at local area level is available from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) of individual people in households. However, in this source, the categorisation of employment in the public or private sector depends upon the responses from the individuals interviewed. As reported by ONS in October 2005 in the publication Public Sector Employment Trends, some individuals tend to misreport private sector employment as being in the public sector hence leading to overestimates of the share of public sector employment.
	With this reservation about the data quality, the attached table shows the number of persons in private sector employment, by the specified splits and for the public sector, for people resident in the Coventry South constituency as shown by the annual local LFS for the 12 month periods ending February 1998 to February 2004.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	Yours sincerely,
	
		Persons in employment resident in the Coventry South constituency by private-public sector split(30)
		
			 Thousand 
			  Private Sector 
			 12 months ending February: Manufacturing Services Other industries(31) Public Sector Total 
		
		
			 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a 34 
			 1999 7 18 2 7 33 
			 2000 7 19 2 7 35 
			 2001 7 22 2 12 43 
			 2002 10 23 4 10 47 
			 2003 10 22 3 10 45 
			 2004 10 18 3 10 41 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(30) Public/private sector split based on responses from individuals responding to the annual local area Labour Force Surveygenerally overestimate public sector employment.
	(31) Other industries are Agriculture, Fishing, Energy and Water and Construction.
	Note:
	Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit fraud cases have been prosecuted to date; and how many fraudulent claims are involved.

Dawn Primarolo: For the income tax year 200506 (to end December) we have prosecuted 180 cases. As regards the number of fraudulent claims, it is not possible to provide the information in the format requested.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecuted cases of tax credit fraud relate to (a) individuals and (b) criminal gangs.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides the breakdown of prosecuted cases for tax credit fraud.
	
		Number
		
			  Individuals Organised crime (Gangs) 
		
		
			 200001 2  
			 200102 28  
			 200203 35  
			 200304 59  
			 200405 211  
			 200506(32) 190 3 
			 (32) To end of December

Tax Credits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of households who are eligible for tax credits who are not claiming them.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 1700W.

Tax Credits

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants have made incorrect claims for (a) working tax credits and (b) child tax credits in West Lancashire constituency area since these tax credits were introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on 31 October 2005, Official Report, column 735W.

Tax Credits

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of forged tax credits resulting in prosecution have been reported to Jobcentre Plus in Hammersmith and Fulham in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: None.

Tax Credits

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of forged tax credits there were in Hammersmith and Fulham in each of the five years before the Jobcentre Plus scheme was launched; and how many there were in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested.

Tax Credits

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria an individual from another EU country residing in the UK must meet to be entitled to (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Nationals of other EEA member states who reside in the UK and claim child and working tax credits must meet the same criteria as other residents of the UK.

Tax Credits

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he will use to measure the effectiveness of the HM Revenue and Customs recent tax credit advertising campaign.

Dawn Primarolo: Regular surveys are carried out to assess the effectiveness of tax credits communications, with particular regard to major advertising campaigns, as well as the overall awareness of tax credits and comprehension of key messages.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many claimants have reported leaving the United Kingdom in relation to a tax credit claim in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region;
	(2)  how many claimants have had their tax credit payments altered as a result of reporting leaving the United Kingdom in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were received by HMRevenue and Customs in relation to the recovery of tax credit overpayments in each year for which figures are available broken down by (a) tax credit and (b) region.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on complaints about the recovery of tax credits received in HM Revenue and Customs is not available.
	For information about the number of disputed tax credit overpayments received in HM Revenue and Customs, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my right hon. friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) and the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 12 December 2005, Official Report, columns 179192W. The number of disputed tax credit overpayments received in the month of November was around 32,500.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much has been paid in additional payments to tax credit claimants on account of hardship after reporting excess in-year payments in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region;
	(2)  how many tax credit claimants who reported excess in-year payments (a) received additional payments on account of hardship and (b) had their tax credits withdrawn in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) type of tax credit and (ii) region .

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman) on 8 December 2005, Official Report, columns 145556W. The number of claims for which payments had been adjusted in 200506, up to 31 December 2005, is around 3,200. All of the information cannot be broken down in the format requested.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many tax credit claimants have reported a fall in their child care costs of more than 10 a week in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region;
	(2)  how many claimants have had their tax credit payments (a) increased and (b) decreased as a result of reporting a fall in their child care costs of more than 10 a week in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) type of tax credit and (ii) region.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much in tax credits has been found to have been overpaid as a result of annual tax credit reviews in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region;
	(2)  how many claimants have been discovered during their annual tax credit review to have had tax credits overpaid to them in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region; and in how many of these cases payments were (i) withdrawn and (ii) reduced.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 2003- 04 Geographical Analysis. This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 200405 are available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm. Estimates of numbers and values of overpayments or underpayments for 200405 awards at 5 April 2005 will not be available until after family circumstances and incomes for 200405 have been finalised. Information concerning withdrawn and reduced payments is not available.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  by how much on average claimants have had their tax credits reduced as a result of it having been discovered in connection with their annual tax credit review that they had tax credits overpaid to them in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region;
	(2)  how much in total has been withdrawn from claimants who have had their tax credits withdrawn entirely as a result of it having been discovered in connection with their annual tax credit review that they had tax credits overpaid to them in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) type of tax credit and (b) region.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants appealed (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully through the HM Revenue and Customs complaints procedure against a decision to change the amount of tax credits paid to them in each year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) type of tax credit and (ii) region.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the requested format.
	For details of the number of appeals about tax credits received in HM Revenue and Customs from June 2005 until 31 October 2005, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) and the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 12 December 2005, columns 179192W.
	In November 2005 HMRC received around 1,195 tax credits appeals. The figures for December 2005 are not yet available.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the maximum household income was below which (a) families and (b) individuals were eligible for each tax credit in each year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Most families with children are entitled to tax credits with incomes of up to 58,000, or up to 66,000 if at least one child is under the age of one. This could be higher if there are a large number of eligible children or the family has two or more children and maximum eligible childcare costs.
	For families without children, receiving the basic and 30-hour element of WTC only, the maximum income at which they could receive tax credits, since the introduction of working tax credit is given in the following table:
	
		
		
			  Singles Couples 
		
		
			 200304 10,700 14,800 
			 200405 10,900 15,100 
			 200506 11,300 15,600

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of eligible (a) lone parent households and (b) non-lone parent households (i) received and (ii) claimed tax credits for each year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates relating to working families' tax credit are available on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/wftc/takeup_rates.htm. Analysis relating to 200304 is ongoing and we expect this work to be completed towards the end of 200506.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of the digital mapping software and hardware purchased by the Valuation Office Agency from the company Tenet.

Dawn Primarolo: Since Tenet were awarded the contract in May 1999 to provide Digital Mapping Application Software to the Valuation Office Agency the total paid to Tenet for the software and user licences is 706,668 excluding VAT. Tenet has not provided any hardware to the agency to date. This tool is used across the agency's business.

VAT Fraud

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government in 200405 of Missing Trader Intra Community (Carousel) VAT fraud; and what estimate he has made of the cost in 200506.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC's latest estimates of MTIC fraud were published as part of the PBR 2005 documentation. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2005/mitl2005.pdf. These cover all forms of MTIC fraud, not just the carousel variant. Because of the difficulty of obtaining accurate estimates of the scale of fraud, the figures are presented as a range.
	HMRC do not produce forecasts of MTIC fraud, so an estimate for 200506 is not available.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of Child Support Agency cases (a) received and (b) cleared for each month from January 2004 to October 2005; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of Child Support Agency cases (a) received and (b) cleared for each month from January 2004 to October 2005; and if he will make a statement.
	Such information as is available is presented in the table below:
	
		Potential new-scheme applications received and cleared
		
			 2005 Received Cleared 
		
		
			 January 22,000 16,000 
			 February 25,000 19,000 
			 March 25,000 24,000 
			 April 25,000 24,000 
			 May 25,000 27,000 
			 June 25,000 26,000 
			 July 25,000 25,000 
			 August 23,000 22,000 
			 September 24,000 28,000 
		
	
	Notes to the table:
	1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. A potential application is defined as cleared if the case is closed, a maintenance calculation has been carried out and a payment arrangement between the parent with care (PWC) and the non-resident parent is in place, the PWC is identified as claiming Good Cause, the PWC is subject to a Reduced Benefit Decision or the application is identified as being a change of circumstances on an existing case as opposed to a new application.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made to the Child Support Agency in each month since January 2003; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made to the Child Support Agency in each month since January 2003.
	The volumes of complaints received direct from clients, their representatives and MPs to the Child Support Agency or to our Ministers over the requested period are in the attached table.
	During 200304 a three-tier complaints process was introduced. Stage 1 complaints are dealt with by the complaints resolution team located within each of the Agency's six business units. Stage 2 complaints are an escalation to the relevant Area Director when the client is not satisfied with the outcome of stage 1 ; and stage 3 is an escalation to the Chief Executive if the client remains dissatisfied. At each level of the complaints process, clients are advised as to how they can escalate their complaint should they remain dissatisfied with the reply they receive.
	In a letter sent to you by Mike Isaac in July 2005, the number of complaints received by the Agency incorrectly included those which had been escalated through stages 2 and 3 as a separate component of the total number of complaints received by the Agency, when in actual fact they are escalations of stage 1 complaints, of which they are a subset. This error has been rectified in this response. I apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused. We will, in the future, not include these figures as intake.
	As you can see, the volume of complaints received by the Agency has broadly stabilised. In the twelve months up to November 2005, the Agency received a total of 54,000 complaints, this compares to 55,000 for the 12 months up to May 2005 (the earliest period for which comparable data for total numbers of complaints received is available).
	To put the attached figures into context, the 54,000 complaints received by the Agency in the 12 months to November 2005 represents less than 4% of the 1.4 million cases currently dealt with by the CSA.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		Number of complaints received by the child support agency in each month since January 2003.
		
			  January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 1,172 1,340 1,446 1,384 1,425 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 144 175 208 220 310 
			 To chief executive 574 649 764 (32) (32) 
			 Treat official 108 144 115 73 93 
			 MP letter to business unit 341 353 381 362 391 
		
	
	
		
			  June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 1,666 2,017 1,725 2,086 2,724 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 508 667 595 772 780 
			 To chief executive (32) (32) (32) (32) (32) 
			 Treat official 96 132 107 107 178 
			 MP letter to business unit 403 420 382 443 519 
		
	
	
		
			  November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 2,553 1,697 2,360 2,358 2,814 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 625 525 749 778 929 
			 To chief executive (32) (32) (32) (32) (32) 
			 Treat official 124 110 139 204 158 
			 MP letter to business unit 446 403 428 551 569 
		
	
	
		
			  April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 2,422 2,748 2,611 2,457 2,505 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 818 897 907 958 807 
			 To chief executive (33) (33) 462 481 447 
			 Treat official 123 114 111 89 86 
			 MP letter to business unit 566 499 592 723 755 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 2,746 2,483 2,633 1,494 2,229 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 876 834 927 937 807 
			 To chief executive 404 367 446 485 289 
			 Treat official 82 58 75 93 70 
			 MP letter to business unit 722 755 891 705 714 
		
	
	
		
			  February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 2,454 2,431 2,561 2,187 2,209 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 874 928 934 872 909 
			 To chief executive 460 511 665 228 482 
			 Treat official 89 118 127 83 105 
			 MP letter to business unit 962 987 793 719 789 
		
	
	
		
			  July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 
		
		
			 Stage 1 written complaints 2,030 2,213 2,291 2,158 2,438 
			 Stage 1 telephone complaints 779 786 863 892 1,003 
			 To chief executive 478 524 480 493 507 
			 Treat official 53 66 93 128 162 
			 MP letter to business unit 814 754 798 820 1,001 
		
	
	(32) During 200304 complaints sent directly to the chief executive were not recorded separately from those complaints, which were escalated to him as part of the three-stage process. Therefore, although 7,183 complaints in total were received during 200304, it is not possible to separate out those complaints received by the chief executive directly (as opposed to those escalated via the complaints process), thus preventing meaningful comparison with data for other years.
	(33) Complaints to chief executive include complaints direct from customers and MP's. In April and May of 2004, the chief executive received a total of 1,435 complaints directly however they were not recorded separately from those received as part of the three stage process.
	Notes:
	1. Treat-official letters are those received by a Minister from a member of the public, and referred to the CSA on behalf of the Minister.
	2. These figures do not include complaints received by the Independent Case Examiner as these were not made to the Child Support Agency, (your PQ9328 refers).

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints the Child Support Agency has received from members of the public in relation to the computer systems used by the Agency since their introduction.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints the Child Support Agency has received from members of the public in relation to the computer systems used by the Agency since their introduction.
	It is difficult to absolutely categorise every complaint as there is often a mix of elements that cause problems and delays. A complaint may cover a number of different issues.
	I can report that between August 2004 and September 2005 approximately 11,000 complaints were received in relation to cases affected by issues relating to the Agency's computer systems.
	I regret that equivalent information was not recorded prior to August 2004. I must point out that the figures I have quoted include all complaints received and not just those that are received directly from clients. A complaint may be received on behalf of a client or by a representative, for example an MP, and the figures relating to the types of complaint for such cases cannot be broken down separately.
	The numbers presented in this response are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	I hope you find this information useful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2249W, on the Child Support Agency, for what reasons the Child Support Agency does not send a Deduction of Earnings Order to employers in all cases where an employed non-resident parent is not making regular payments.

James Plaskitt: Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEOs) are a discretionary decision which means the Agency considers each case on merit and seeks to apply them if a non-resident parent (NRP) is employed but not compliant with maintenance payments. A DEO may not be appropriate for a limited number of reasons including, where the NRP's jobs are likely to be short term or if an NRP is employed outside of the UK.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of calls to the Child Support Agency helpline were (a) answered, (b) received, (c) engaged and (d) hung up on in each month from June to November; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 25 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of calls to the Child Support Agency helpline have been (a) answered (b) received (c) engaged and (d) hung up on in each month from June to November; and if he will make a statement.
	The information requested is contained in the attached table.
	With regard to the first part of the question, the proportion of calls answered has been presented in two ways. Some calls are either ineffective (due to a network failure, for example) or are abandoned or lost during the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) part of the process before they have joined a queue to be answered by staff (for example if a client does not have their National Insurance number to hand and hangs up to go and find it before calling back). Therefore this figure has also been presented as a proportion of the total calls that are available for Agency staff to answer.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		
			  2005 
			  June July August September October November 
		
		
			 Attempted customer calls to both CS2 and CSCS numbers 463,000 418,000 440,000 500,000 480,000 454,000 
			 Calls for which outcome not recorded 7,000 5,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 
			 Calls for which outcome recorded 456,000 413,000 436,000 496,000 476,000 452,000 
			 Of which:   
			 Percentage calls that received an engaged/busy tone 1   1 5  
			 Percentage calls otherwise ineffective 3 2 2 3 3 2 
			 Percentage calls abandoned/lost during the IVR process. 4 5 5 5 6 7 
			 Percentage calls abandoned in the queue (post IVR) 10 8 9 11 8 6 
			 Percentage calls answered 82 86 83 79 77 85 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			
			 Percentage calls answered that were available to staff to answer (post IVR) 89 92 90 88 90 93 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data is presented for calls made regarding cases on the new system (CS2) and the old system (CSCS) combined.
	2.  indicates a figure less than 0.5 per cent.
	3. Total calls attempted exclude calls attempted outside working hours.
	4. 'Calls for which outcome not recorded' are those which were received but for which, due to problems with the MI system, the eventual outcome was not recorded. Some of these calls would have been answered, and others would have been abandoned. The volume of such calls has decreased significantly in the last 3 years as management information systems have improved.
	5. 'Calls for which outcome recorded' are those which were received and for which there is management information to track the eventual outcome.
	6. Other ineffective calls are those that resulted in a ring tone but no reply, fail due to network technical problems, or are answered by a BT message but do not connect to the CSA system.
	7. IVR denotes the automated touch tone part of the process where customers enter their details via the telephone key pad. Once callers have cleared this part of the process, they enter a queue to be answered by a member of CSA staff. There is no IVR process on the old system.
	8. The percentage of calls abandoned in the queue refers to the percentage of total calls received, for which the outcome is recorded, that were abandoned once in a queue to be answered by staff.
	9. The percentage of calls answered that were available to staff to answer refers to calls answered as a proportion of those that were connected to the queue for an agent (post IVR where appropriate).
	10. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, and percentages to the nearest 1 per cent. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Child Support Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken by the Child Support Agency is to update maintenance payments by absent parents where the income of the absent parent has changed.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Community Programme for Employment and  Social Solidarity

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's position on the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS); what (a) gender mainstream programmes, (b) diversity packages and (c) social inclusion projects are planned under the programme; what publicity work will accompany the programme; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The UK, along with other member states, supports the need for this successor EU-level spending programme for the period 200713, which will provide financial support for the implementation of the Community's objectives for employment and social affairs and the achievement of the Lisbon goals. It will replace existing programmes to promote measures to combat direct or indirect discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation; promote gender equality; support analysis, research and cooperation between member states in employment and labour market matters; and encourage cooperation between member states to combat social exclusion. The new programme does not propose a range of specific projects, but rather provides a framework to support EU-level actions under the areas covered, such as developing statistical tools, sharing of best practice, awareness-raising campaigns and support for organisations operating in the relevant fields. This includes action in the three areas the hon. Member mentions where, for example, we would expect support to continue for the common legislative framework on gender equality, which provides a level playing field for the single European market in goods and services. But legislation is only part of the storypractice has to change and PROGRESS will enable good practice to be developed and shared between member states. Similarly, PROGRESS is likely to maintain support for a range of intermediary groups from across the UK to increase knowledge and understanding by employers and individuals of new anti-discrimination law. It should also support a range of research projects, such as those looking at the provision of services for ethnic minority elders; the particular barriers faced by the most deprived children and families in gaining access to welfare provisions; and ways of improving links between local and central government in the field of social exclusion. Once agreed, the new unified programme will be publicised via the usual Commission and other European institute and news routes, including web and press, and through the existing management structures for those working under the current programmes.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies his Department has carried out into the possibility of transferring child maintenance responsibilities to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Department's policies and how they are delivered, including those of the Child Support Agency, are always kept under review.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.

James Plaskitt: As at December 2005, there were 3,840 people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Pensions (Deemed Buy-back)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what total (a) gross and (b) net amounts his Department has budgeted for in each of the next three years in respect of Deemed Buy-Backs of pensions.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply
	The information requested is not available. This is because a person may find himself or herself in a pension scheme that winds up in an underfunded position at any time during their working life. If they opt for Deemed Buy-Back they will only benefit from any State Additional Pension rights secured when they become entitled to their State Retirement Pension. This could be many years into the future. No funds are, nor can be, set aside arising from Deemed Buy-Back.